A FORMER soldier who slashed his estranged wife with a Stanley knife as she was dropping her grandchild off at nursery has had two years taken off his prison sentence - after arguing he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.

Kevin Denis Naylor, formerly of West Avenue, who enjoyed a 'glittering Army career', has had an 11 year prison sentence reduced to nine years, although the extended licence period remains in place.

The jail term was imposed at Chester Crown Court in November last year, after Naylor smashed the car window of Elaine Munday with a hammer, before striking her and slicing her with a carpet knife.

She was on Prescott Street in Latchford after leaving Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School.

The former staff sergeant, who toured the Falklands, handed himself in at Stockton Heath police station with clothes covered in blood and broken glass, saying he had attacked his wife, that he was suffering from PTSD and no one was helping him.

On Wednesday, three top judges at the Court of Appeal considered a psychology report that suggested Naylor suffered from PTSD or a personality disorder at the time of the brutal assault, which left his long-suffering wife needing numerous operations to regain use of her hand.

Sir Richard Henriques accepted Naylor had suffered from PTSD, but said its influence on the offence was a 'matter of some speculation'.

"But we are persuaded that his condition does, to some degree, explain his conduct without in any way excusing it," said the judge.

"It does, to some extent, mitigate his actions."

During the appeal it was argued Naylor's condition had not been properly considered during the sentencing hearing at Chester Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon, criminal damage and breaching a restraining order.

The Court of Appeal heard the defendant, who served in the Army for 15 years, was traumatised while on exercise in Poland in 1998.

Naylor was in command of a tank - although not driving it - when it ran over one of his friends and killed him.

The incident left Naylor with flashbacks and nightmares and he has also attempted suicide.