A 'neighbour from hell' who terrorised a mother in her home has been freed from jail - after top judges showed 'mercy' because of her own children.

Michelle Louise Barratt, 35, stood by as her husband, Dean Barratt, snatched their neighbour's baby from his cot before issuing a menacing threat, after they were ordered to stop causing disturbance to the woman and her family.

The victim and her partner were so traumatised that they moved from their home in Kent Road, Selby.

The Barratts were each jailed for two years and a month at York Crown Court in June, after admitting affray.

But judges at London's Criminal Appeal Court said the couple's four children - the youngest of whom was born in prison - had been without a parent long enough and Michelle Barratt should be released.

The court heard the Barratts' neighbours, a young couple with a 10-month old baby, had complained to the council about the noise.

The county court made an order on April 16 last year, banning the Barratts from causing a nuisance to the couple but Michelle Barratt, who later moved to Sussex Gardens, Leeds, told another neighbour the complainant was a 'grass' who was 'going to get it'.

The Barratts waited until 9.30pm, when the woman's partner was at work, before going next door.

When the heavily-pregnant victim came to answer the door, the pair pulled it shut - trapping her fingers - before forcing their way in.

Dean Barratt, 47, told the woman: "If you keep your gob shut and don't go to court, your kids will be safe", before going upstairs and taking her baby from his cot.

He brought him onto the landing and said: "This is what will happen and we are not afraid to do it. I will personally cut your partner's brakes if you go to court."

He put the baby down and the Barratts left. They were arrested and charged with witness intimidation but denied any wrongdoing until the day they were to stand trial, when they admitted the lesser charge of affray.

Barratt, who has previous convictions for battery, resisting arrest, benefit fraud and theft, told a probation officer the victim had made the whole thing up and said she only admitted the offence because her solicitor advised her to.

Her lawyers argued that the crown court judge didn't take enough account of the fact the children would be deprived of both parents for a substantial period of time.

Mr Justice Picken said the judge was right to find the couple deserved to go to prison for their 'nasty' crime.

But, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Mr Justice Sweeney, he said the situation now called for Michelle Barratt's release, in the interests of her children.

The judge reduced her sentence to 18 months which, taking into account the time she has already served and time she spent on electronic tag before being jailed, means she will be released immediately.