A thug who left a man with a broken leg after an unprovoked attack has had his jail term cut.

David Wayne Smith, 32, repeatedly punched Patrick McKenna and stamped on his leg in Workington.

Smith, of Poole Road, Salterbeck, was jailed for two years at Carlisle Crown Court in December, after he admitted wounding.

But his sentence was today cut to 18 months after top judges heard his absence was having a serious impact on his children.

The court heard Smith attacked Mr McKenna in January last year.

Mr Justice Foskett said there was an "ongoing dispute" between the two men as Smith believed one of the victim's dogs had harmed his mother's pet and had demanded £250 for treatment.

He told police he "completely lost it" when he saw Mr McKenna - who has learning difficulties - and struck him on the back of his head, knocking him to the ground.

Smith then repeatedly punched him, before stamping on his leg.

Smith's lawyers said his jail term was too tough and his absence from home was harming his children.

His barrister said he shared caring responsibilities with his wife, who is a nurse, and that one of his sons, who is particularly close to his father, was struggling to cope with him being away.

Mr Justice Foskett, sitting with Mr Justice Goss, said jail was inevitable for the attack but added the new information about the impact on Smith's family justified a reduction in his sentence.