Colin Gregg, son of Greggs bakery founder, has sentence for indecent assault reduced
The heir was accused of "abusing young boys with alarming regularity" and was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in March.
Tuesday 19 December 2017 22:54, UK
The son of the founder of the Greggs bakery empire has had his sentence for indecently assaulting young boys cut by five years.
Senior judges at the Court of Appeal rejected Colin Gregg's bid to have all his convictions overturned but they agreed his sentence was "too long" and reduced it to eight-and-a-half years.
The 76-year-old, of Home Steadings, Gosforth, Newcastle was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault against four boys - aged between 11 and 14 from the early 1960s to the 1990's in March.
:: Greggs bakery heir Colin Gregg guilty of child sex abuse
One victim was abused in a swimming pool and others in a gym and sauna at his home.
Gregg watched the proceedings over a video link from prison.
Lord Justice Davis, sitting with Mrs Justice Nicola Davies and Judge Nicholas Dean QC, said the appeal against sentence must be allowed.
He said: "Having reflected upon the matter, the view of this court is that a total sentence of eight-and-a-half years is appropriate for this offending and for this offender."
Gregg was described as having played a "significant" part in the success of his family's business and had raised thousands of pounds for charity before his convictions.