A SICK thug convicted of locking a teenage girl in a cupboard under his stairs before subjecting her to a "mock trial" using his friends as a jury, has won a cut in the number of years he must spend behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

Daniel Washbourne, aged 20, of Etnam Street, Leominster, was detained for life after he was convicted at Worcester Crown Court in July last year of offences of false imprisonment, causing actual bodily harm and robbery.

It was ordered that his tariff - the time he must spend locked up before being considered eligible for parole - be set at seven years.

But Lord Justice Keene, sitting with Mrs Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Calvert-Smith at London's Appeal Court, cut Washbourne's tariff to three-and-a-half years - ruling the original one was "manifestly excessive".

The judge said the girl had gone to stay at Washbourne's house in January 2004 when he persuaded her to give him oral sex. Also present at the house were Washbourne's girlfriend and a male friend.

The following morning, as the girl tried to leave, Washbourne stood in her way and said she owed him rent for the night she spent in the house - demanding £40 from her.

She gave him £20 at which point he began to punch her and she handed over another £20.

He and his friend then left the house - locking the girl in - and came back later with padlocks and chains, which they fitted to a cupboard under the stairs and made her get inside.

Washbourne then launched a renewed attack on his terrified victim and threw her to the floor before kicking and punching her and putting her back in the cupboard.

Later, he dragged her upstairs where he, his partner and friend conducted a "mock trial" - accusing the girl of having raped him.

Washbourne then took the victim out for a walk and threatened to throw her off a bridge. However, they bumped into the girl's father and the police were called.

Lawyers for Washbourne today argued the sentence meted out was too long bearing in mind his relative youth.

Lord Justice Keene said he would cut the tariff, despite saying the crime was "very serious" and a life sentence was "entirely appropriate".

The judge dismissed an appeal against Washbourne's conviction.