An irate boyfriend who hacked off his lover's hair after a furious row yesterday had his jail term almost halved at London's Appeal Court.

Michael Ross Cresswell (22), of Worcester Road, Netherton, Dudley, was sentenced to 22 months custody at Wolverhampton Crown Court in May this year.

He had pleaded guilty to offences of causing actual bodily harm, obstructing a constable, threatening behaviour and aggravated vehicle taking.

But Mr Justice Simon, sitting with Mr Justice Lloyd Jones at the Appeal Court in London, cut Cresswell's sentence to a year, ruling the original term was "manifestly excessive".