A MOTHER of young children who launched a vicious revenge attack on her brother's rape victim today won a cut in her jail term.

Suzanne Marie Atkin, 36, of Burton Stone Lane, York, was jailed for two years in July at York Crown Court after pleading guilty to assaulting a witness.

London's Criminal Appeal Court today cut her term to 15 months, noting her previous good character, her early guilty plea, the depression she had been suffering from, and the fact she was a single mother with young children. Mr Justice Silber, sitting with Mr Justice Grigson, said the victim of the assault had been raped by Atkin's brother in October 2001.

David Atkin 43, of Fountayne Street, York, was convicted of the offence in April.

The Court of Appeal heard that before he was jailed for five years on April 29, the sister went to the victim's workplace with another woman. When the victim set off to walk home, Suzanne Atkin grabbed her from behind as she walked through a car park. During a struggle, the victim fell backwards on the ground, hitting her forehead on a car boot.

The sister said she wanted to talk to her and started to drag her off. She told the terrified victim she hoped she was moving far away as "otherwise I am going to make your life hell".

Suzanne Atkin also said: "Do you know what you put the family through?"

Passers-by told the sister to stop the attack, but she refused saying: "You don't know what she has done," kicking her in her back and punching her in the face.

One witness spoke of fearing for the life of the victim, who was treated for bruising and cuts, and became frightened to go to work.

When interviewed Suzanne Atkin admitted the assault saying she had lost her temper, denied that it had been pre-meditated, and said all she had wanted to do was to talk to the victim.

Mr Justice Silber said the sister was of previous good character and a pre-sentence report said the attack had been uncharacteristic. The risk of further offences being committed was assessed as relatively low.

The judge referred to a letter from Suzanne Atkin's GP, which had not been available when she was sentenced, which spoke of her depression. Thirteen character references were put before the court.

The sentencing judge described the attack as an "act of revenge" and noted the victim had been attacked in a sustained and brutal way.

"It is said she was totally shocked by the allegations of rape against her brother, then without previous convictions, and had lost control during the course of a conversation with the victim," Mr Justice Silber said.

After noting Suzanne Atkin's mitigation and the "unusual features of this case", he agreed to cut her term to 15 months.

Updated: 11:54 Friday, December 20, 2002