A DRUNKEN 20-year-old who beat and kicked a motorist after stepping into the middle of the road to halt his car, had his four-year sentence reduced at London's Appeal Court yesterday.

Paul Stirman, of Eden Street, Peterlee, strode straight into the road with a bottle in his hand as the motorist was driving through the town on January 29 last year.

Stirman hurled abuse at the driver and told him that he was going to take the car.

A fracas ensued in which Stirman and another man punched the motorist, continuing to kick and beat him after he fell to the ground.

Their victim finally managed to escape to a nearby shop where he called for help. Stirman later claimed he was "too drunk to remember what happened".

Stirman received a four-year sentence at Durham Crown Court last April after pleading guilty to two separate counts of affray and one of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Justice Jackson yesterday ruled four years was "excessive" and reduced the term to three years.