A CHILD molester convicted of sexually assaulting three children has won a cut in his jail term following a judge's ruling at the Appeal Court.

Cyril Edwards, 33, of Gresham Close, Walcot, was jailed for nine years at Swindon Crown Court in December 2002 after being convicted of 12 offences of committing gross indecency with a child.

But Lord Justice Kay, sitting with Mr Justice David Clarke and Judge John Brodrick at London's Appeal Court, cut Edwards' custodial term to six years, ruling he could serve the remainder of the nine-year sentence in the community on licence.

The judge said Edwards' acts of gross indecency came to light in March 2002.

But, allowing the appeal, Lord Justice Kay said: "Having considered the matter with care, we think this sentence was out of line with offences of this kind.

"The period Edwards will spend in custody before release will be shorter, but he will remain on licence thereafter for a longer period.

Lawyers on Edwards' behalf had also argued the conviction was unsafe because of flaws in the trial judge's summing-up to the jury, but this argument was dismissed.