A SEX beast who raped a woman and molested a schoolgirl has had his jail term cut on appeal by top judges.

Garry Tattersall was jailed for nine years at Bolton Crown Court in June after admitting one count of rape and two of indecent assault.

But the 47-year-old, of Prescot Close, Redvales, today had his sentence reduced to seven years and nine months by judges sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court.

They ruled that his original punishment was was "too long".

The court heard Tattersall committed the offences against the young girl more than a decade ago, when she was aged just 13.

However, those crimes only came to light more recently, following his rape of the woman.

He had made the teenager play a game of strip poker before violating her, the court heard.

Tattersall at first denied the offences, but eventually admitted his guilt.

His lawyers argued his jail term was excessive, saying the judge relied on the rape victim's harrowing account without hearing Tattersall's version of events.

Allowing his appeal, Judge Peter Collier QC said the judge should not have gone ahead and sentenced Tattersall without first resolving disputed issues.

Sitting with Lord Justice Bean and Mr Justice Stewart, he added: "It seems to us there was an issue about due process here and the judge was wrong to adopt the approach he did."