A burglar who threatened a man with a knife and apologised as soon as his victim handed over cash has had his jail term cut.

Simon Harrison, 38, of Broadwater Road, Worthing, had been jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary at Chichester Crown Court on April 24.

But yesterday the Criminal Appeal Court in London reduced his sentence to five years.

On April 10, a 61-year-old man who cared and lived with his 93-year-old bed-ridden mother, had locked up his house and gone to bed.

Mr Justice Nelson, sitting with Lord Justice Kay and Mr Justice Bell, said that at about 9.45pm the man answered the doorbell after being unable to see through the peephole who had rung it.

The judge said: "He saw Harrison standing outside the house with a crucifix in his hand."

Harrison said he was a Catholic, then barged past the man who realised he was also holding a knife with which he threatened him.

The householder agreed to his demands for money, provided he and his mother came to no harm. Harrison had pushed the man up the hallway, causing the man to knock and smash a window with his elbow. He was not injured.

Mr Justice Nelson said as soon as the man handed over £140 cash, Harrison's behaviour changed and he began to apologise for his actions.

Meanwhile a neighbour, who had heard the disturbance, came to investigate and detained Harrison.

The money was recovered, while the knife was found behind the sofa.

Harrison told police he had left home intending to commit a burglary and had taken the knife so he could open sash windows.

The judge said: "He said he felt terrible immediately after . . . and that is when he started to apologise."