THE senior detective who brought the Moses Gate Country Park rapist to justice has reacted angrily to the news his jail term has been cut by more than half.

Aytekin Yildirim was sentenced to life imprisonment last September for the horrific attack on a 17-year-old girl as she was walking her dog.

The trial judge, Michael Morland, branded him a "danger to the public" and, after jailing him for life, ordered that he should serve a minimum of 16 years before being considered for parole.

Appeal court judges in London slashed the tariff to seven years on Monday after deciding the original term was "significantly too high".

The man who led the investigation which brought Yildirim to justice, Det Insp Andy Aston, said he was disappointed with the reduction in the sentence.

"I felt the first tariff of 16 years was appropriate. This man is clearly a danger to the public," he said.

"The officers in the case, the prosecution barrister, solicitors from the Crown Prosecution Service and the judge were all shocked at the severity of what happened.

"He will still have to serve seven years and then be eligible for parole, but it doesn't mean he will automatically be released.

"Due to the fact he was convicted of a life sentence, when he is released he will be subject to close supervision by the police and the authorities. The victim has been made aware of the reduction."

Yildirim, of Embsay Close, Astley Bridge, was 18 when he stalked and confronted the girl in February last year.

He grabbed her in a headlock and held a Gurkha knife to her throat before dragging her into woodland where he raped her twice.

He stole her jewellery, some of which he kept as a sick memento of what he had done.

The sex attacker also choked his victim, who eventually struggled free and ran through the River Croal to raise the alarm.

At the appeal court, Lord Justice Rose accepted there were aggravated features such as the use of a weapon, threats to kill and attempted strangulation of the victim, but he still believed the 16-year term was excessive.

Mr Aston and his team of detectives were rewarded last week for their "outstanding work, professionalism, commitment and enthusiasm" insolving the case.