A WIDNES mum who spat in the face of a prosecution witness moments after her brother was convicted of sex crimes has had her jail term halved by top judges.

Nicola Sutcliffe, of Cherry Sutton, launched a tirade of abuse in the public gallery at Warrington Crown Court on May 20.

The child minder exploded after a jury found her brother Anthony Sutcliffe guilty of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.

The 43-year-old single mum verbally assaulted, gestured at, spat towards and lashed out at the witness in front of the judge and jury.

Sutcliffe was eventually removed from court and arrested, Mr Justice Supperstone told London's Appeal Court on Friday.

She admitted 'attacking a prosecution witness' and was found in contempt of court. She was caged for a year later the same day.

The judge who jailed Sutcliffe said she had been 'warned before the jury came into court to return their verdict that it is necessary to behave in a proper and modest way'.

But she 'totally ignored that warning' and deserved to be locked up for her tirade.

As a result of Sutcliffe's behaviour the jury were 'extremely distressed', said the Crown Court judge, and she excused them from jury service for the next 10 years.

‘It is a corner stone of justice that any jury is able to do their duty without fear or intimidation," she added.

Anthony Sutcliffe, 45, of Barnes Road, was jailed for three years at a later hearing.

Frances Willmott, for Nicola Sutcliffe - who was tearful on a video link from prison - argued her jail term was far too tough.

She had no previous convictions and was a single parent with four children, one of them seriously disabled.

She had 'mental health difficulties' and it was a 'spontaneous outburst' for which she apologised straight away, added the barrister.

Mr Justice Supperstone said there was a 'discrepancy' over whether there had been any physical contact between Sutcliffe and the victim.

They had to 'proceed on the basis most favourable to Sutcliffe' that 'no physical contact was made', he added.

Sutcliffe's offence was 'extremely serious', said the judge, who was sitting with Lady Justice Sharp and Mr Justice Holgate.

But, allowing the appeal, he concluded: "We consider that a sentence of six months' imprisonment would be appropriate in this case."