A man who was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for theft has had his sentence reduced by the High Court in Lautoka to 13 months.

Peni Tuilaselase was convicted on a count of theft by the Lautoka Magistrates Court in July

On April 18 this year, Tuilaselase, 39, stole a handbag containing a gold nose stud worth $200 and loose coins of about $4 from inside a vehicle belonging to a Birja Wati, 51, of Kashmir, Lautoka.

An enforcement officer on patrol witnessed the incident and arrested Tuilasese and took him to the Police station.

Tuilaselase pleaded guilty on June 2, 2015, and was sentenced to 18 months with a non-parole period of 12 months.

However, Tuilaselase appealed his sentence stating that the Magistrate failed to give discount to his early guilty plea.

He said the sentence was harsh and excessive and had picked a higher starting point as a tariff for a count of theft.

Justice Aruna Aluthge considered his appeal, set aside the Magistrates Court’s sentence and gave the new sentence of 13 months with a non-parole period of seven months.