A MAN with learning difficulties who was jailed for stabbing his long-term partner to death has had his "excessive" minimum jail term slashed on appeal.

Mark Pearce, aged 52, killed 53-year-old Julie Hitch with a single stab to the back at their home in Bewdley Street, Evesham, in April last year.

Pearce had flown into a rage when the pair argued following Ms Hitch's discovery of his previous convictions for serious violence.

He admitted murder and was jailed for a minimum of 16-and-a-half years at Worcester Crown Court last September.

But that has now been cut to 15 years after senior judges in London said he deserved more credit for his remorse and learning difficulties.

Judge John Wait QC said 16-and-a-half years which must be served before applying for release was "manifestly excessive" and had to be cut.

The judge said Pearce himself had raised the alarm following his attack on Ms Hitch, calling a neighbour for help.

When the neighbour arrived, she found Ms Hitch on the floor, covered with a duvet.

Pearce admitted stabbing her in the back, puncturing a lung, then rolling up a teatowel and trying to strangle her.

However, he had suffered from a learning difficulty, which made it much more difficult for him to cope in trying circumstances, the court heard.

Giving judgment, Judge Wait said: "The use of a knife to stab the deceased in the back was a serious aggravating feature.

"We regard the subsequent attempt to strangle her as a matter which made clear this was an intent to cause death, rather than merely serious injury."

But he continued: "In setting the term, the learned judge failed to give full weight to the mitigating features of the very real remorse and, in particular, the lower culpability that has to be attributed to someone with his learning difficulty."

Pearce will only be freed after serving his new 15-year minimum term if the Parole Board is convinced he is no longer a danger.