A LORRY driver who killed a 13-year-old boy in Stubbington with the unsecured hydraulic arm of a crane has had his prison sentence cut in half.

Michael Marsh, 47, of Ashleigh Close, Hythe, was jailed for two years in May last year after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

A hydraulic arm on his lorry slid out and struck 13-year-old Daniel Beveridge, pictured below left, on the head in the road where he lived.

The court was told that Marsh did not safely stow the arm which killed Daniel and seriously injured his school-friend Tom Trusler, 12, as they walked along the pavement in Titchfield Road.

Yesterday Marsh contested the conviction in the Criminal Court of Appeal.

His barrister argued that the crane arm's safety latch could have accidentally become unlatched, or someone other than Marsh could have unlatched it.

Lord Justice Tuckey dismissed the appeal, but cut the sentence, saying: "We think in this case a sentence of imprisonment was merited and there was no basis for suspending it."

He concluded: "We think that culpability can be appropriately measured by a sentence of 12 months."

Under the revised sentence, Marsh became eligible for parole in November last year.

Daniel's parents were yesterday unavailable for comment on the revised sentence

Marsh's family also declined to comment.