by Lorraine King A thief who took part in a string of thefts from parking meters has had his jail term reduced by the Court of Appeal. Esat Hazimi, 29, of Mortimer Crescent, Kilburn, was jailed for two years last December after admitting

by Lorraine King

A thief who took part in a string of thefts from parking meters has had his jail term reduced by the Court of Appeal.

Esat Hazimi, 29, of Mortimer Crescent, Kilburn, was jailed for two years last December after admitting conspiracy to steal.

Southwark Crown Court had heard he was part of a gang who had plundered the meters costing Westminster Council £50,000 a week.

He was caught in September last year at an address in Clifford Gardens, Kensal Rise, where police had found a bag containing more than a thousand £1 coins and specially manufactured keys for opening parking meters.

Hazimi had admitted his involvement but said he had only taken part for just one day.

However, the sentencing judge said he believed Hazimi would have continued if not caught out.

Last week, at a hearing at the Court of Appeal, two top judges, Mr Justice Davis and Dame Heather Steel, ruled that he had been too harshly punished and cut his jail term to 18 months.

But, rejecting the argument of his barrister, Max Von Santen, that he should have been sentenced purely on that basis, Mr Justice Davis said the Crown Court judge was not required to 'suspend all sense of reality.'

lorraine.king@archant.co.uk