A THUG described as having a "complete lack of regard for fellow citizens" had a prison sentence reduced on appeal.

Wesley Phillip Hall, 24, of Edward Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court in November last year to theft, battery and failing to surrender to his bail.

He was sentenced in February to two years imprisonment.

The sentencing judge noted Hall had a bad record considering his age. He said that what was more troubling was his "complete lack of regard for fellow citizens and a lack of respect for the court".

However Judge Rogers QC, accompanied on the bench by Lord Justice Dyson and Mr Justice Forbes, said there was merit in Hall's appeal that a two-year sentence was too long.

He reduced his sentence to 15 months.

Judge John Rogers QC told London's Court of Appeal how Hall approached his 23-year-old victim, who he knew from a probation course they attended together, in the town centre of Brierfield in May 2003.

He said Hall snatched the man's bag, which contained an empty mobile phone box.

When he was followed by his victim, Hall turned around and said "remember me" before hitting him in the head.

When his victim continued to follow him, he said "Do you want to get stabbed?" and put his hand in his pocket, at which point the victim became scared and ran away.

The judge said Hall was bailed in relation to the matter and was due to surrender on December 21 last year, which he failed to do. He was arrested on January 22 this year.

He said Hall had several previous convictions including two offences of battery, unlawful wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threatening behaviour.

Hall had also failed to surrender to his bail on three separate occasions, said the judge.

It appeared he harboured "resentment" to his victim because he had been removed from a probation course the pair were attending, after the victim complained Hall was bullying him.