TWO men who smashed the windows of Helen Goodman MP’s office with bricks on a drug and alcohol fuelled rampage will be released from prison early after successfully appealing their sentences.

Alan Dent, 50, was jailed for eight weeks and Colin Dodds, 44, handed 12 weeks in prison after they were convicted of “deliberately targeting” the Bishop Auckland MP’s office earlier this year.

But the pair will be released from prison three and two weeks early, respectively, after successfully appealing their prison sentences which defence lawyers branded “excessive”.

Dodds, who denied taking part in the attack this April, also appealed to quash his conviction but the request was rejected at Teesside Crown Court.

Judge Deborah Sherwin said political representatives are increasingly “having a hard time” and a deterrent must be served to reduce the threats and intimidation they face.

She said: “There was very little planning in this offence but we think it was motivated by a general animosity by the MP’s politics and position over Brexit.

“It was a constituency MP’s office targeted, albeit it wasn’t planned in advance, there were members of the public around and there should be a deterrence. MPs are having a very hard time with abuse on social media, on the streets and in general.

“But we are not sure whether it was planned or motivated by membership, affiliation or support of right wing groups.”

The court was shown pictures of Dent holding a North East Infidels flag branded with ‘No Refugees’ and attending a English Defence League ‘ban the burka’ rally.

But giving evidence via video link, Dent insisted the pair stumbled across the MP’s office by accident after drinking several pints at a nearby pub and although he admitted throwing a brick through the office window, it was not politically motivated.

He said: “I was arguing with another mate. I picked the brick up and I was in a bad mood. I took my frustration out on Ms Goodman. Dodds grabbed the brick out of my hand but as I approached her office I took it back and smashed a window. I lost my temper and regret it, I wish it never occurred.”

Dent claimed Dodds, who denied the charge, didn’t take part in the criminal damage and although the pair follow right wing groups, they are not extremists.

William Byrne, defending Dodds, said the conviction “turned his world upside down” and his inability to keep up with his gardening job has hit his family financially.

Amrit Jandoo, defending Dent, added the “excessive” prison sentence has exacerbated his mental health challenges.

Restraining orders against Dent, of Cooperative Street, Shildon, and Dodds, of Douthwaite Road, Bishop Auckland, preventing them from contacting or visiting the MP will stay in place until July 2021.