A TEENAGER who killed a youth he believed had stolen his shirt has had his sentence cut by judges.

William Scott Heslop, 19, of Warkworth Avenue, South Shields, South Tyneside, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' detention at Newcastle Crown Court, on February 3.

He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 16-year-old Karl Brownsword, with whom he had been on good terms and who was a friend of his younger brother.

Yesterday, London's Criminal Appeal Court concluded that his sentence was too long - and cut it to two-and-a-half years' detention.

"These cases are always not only tragic but very difficult for the sentencing court," said Lord Justice Scott Baker, sitting with Mr Justice Henriques and Mr Justice Stanley Burnton.

"On the one hand, a life has been lost. On the other hand, the extent of mental culpability in the perpetrator is not as great as the consequences would appear to indicate."

The judge said it was plain Heslop had not embarked on what he did with the intent of a result of anything like the kind that tragically occurred.

The court heard Heslop had punched Karl several times about the head after a heated incident over a shirt he spotted as his own.

Karl said Heslop's brother had sold it to him. He died from a brain injury caused by one of the blows.

When Heslop found out the Karl had died, he went to the police and was arrested.