A FORMER escort girl who axed her lover to death had her five-year prison sentence for his manslaughter cut to 3 years by the Court of Appeal in London this afternoon.

It is understood that the decision means Janet Charlton could be released in a few months time.

Charlton, aged 36, attacked tycoon Daniel O'Brien, who was born and brought up in Harwood, with an axe at their home in Midgeley, West Yorkshire.

Mr O'Brien, aged 41, was found naked, handcuffed and gagged.

He had been struck in the head and upper body 20 times. Charlton was jailed for five years after being convicted of manslaughter at Leeds Crown Court last summer. At her original trial, Charlton claimed she hit her lover because she feared he was about to harm her and her four-year-old daughter. Mr Justice Jackson and Mr Justice Elias said they had reached the conclusion that the five-year jail term for manslaughter was "excessive".

Charlton was not present at London's Law Courts for the ruling.