A teenage thug who left a 73-year-old man with a fractured eye socket in an unprovoked attack has had his jail term slashed.

The boy, who was only 14 years old at the time of the incident, initially escaped a jail term for the brutal attack but cut off the electronic tag fitted to monitor a curfew.

He was then sentenced to a 16 month detention and training order for the attack and other offences committed while on bail waiting trial.

But the yob appealed against the sentence and Recorder Neil Ford QC, sitting at Swindon crown court with a magistrate, cut the time he will have to spend inside by a quarter.

Although he did not change the one year term for the grievous bodily harm he ruled the four months for the other offences should be served concurrently not consecutively.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told the court how Ronald Mortimer and his wife had gone out on the night of Saturday March 17.

The couple had left their Nissan Micra in the car park of the Rodbourne Arms and returned to the vehicle at about half past midnight the following morning.

"As they approached Mr Mortimer saw two males sitting in the front of the car," she said.

"The male in the front passenger seat ran away leaving the male in the front driver's seat; this defendant. Mr Mortimer asked the male what he was doing in his car.

"The male got out of the car and punched Mr Mortimer in the head causing an eye injury. He then left the car park."

As a result of the attack the court heard that the pensioner needed to undergo two operations on his eye socket.

When the young thug was arrested he told police he had not been in the car and accused the man of grabbing him causing him to ct in self defence.

The Moredon teenager, now aged 15, denied grievous bodily harm but was found guilty following a trial at the youth court. He admitted theft and taking without consent.

While he was on bail awaiting trial the teenager's fingerprints were found inside a Ford Fiesta stolen from Thorney Park, Wroughton, on Sunday May 29.

He then stole 24 cans of Stella Artois lager from a convenience store on the evening of Friday June 8 saying to shop staff I'm not bothered; I'm getting sent down anyway'.

When he first appeared before the youth court having been convicted of the GBH he was put on a supervision order with a three month curfew.

After being convicted of the two other offences and breach of the order a few weeks later he was sentenced to the 16 month term in September.

The court heard he had a long list of offending including robbery in April 2003 when he was just ten years old.

He was then convicted of theft in 2004, TWOC, theft of vehicle, criminal damage and various driving matters the following years and five common assaults and vehicle interference from last year.

Tony Bignall, defending, said his client was not appealing against the imposition of a custodial sentence - simply the length.

He said the boy was very apologetic for assaulting the man saying he had not realised his age when he punched him.

"He said were he aware he was as old as he was he would not have acted in the way he did,' he said.

Since starting his custodial sentence he said the boy was doing GCSEs in English and ICT and hoped to start a brick laying course on his release.

Cutting the sentence the judge told the youth "The offence of grievous bodily harm was an extremely unattractive one. Mr Mortimer was 73 and you a fit young man.

"It may be with the condition you were in you didn't realise how elderly he was but you were sitting in his car and you chose to punch him."

He said the one year term was merited but felt the other matters would not have resulted in custody if they were being sentenced alone so should not extend the custodial period.

"He said "To that extent the appeal will be allowed. The total sentence will be one of 12 months. That shows a degree of mercy by us. It means you will be released two months earlier than you thought."