Davina Delo, aged 48, of Ivanhoe Street, Dudley, assumed control of David Glass' finances in 2009 after the death of his wife.

And after she married David Joseph Delo, 44, of Brook Street, Dudley, they moved in with her father in Telford.

Between May 2011 and June 2014, she withdrew around £17,500 from the widower's account, Mrs Justice Simler told London's Appeal Court.

She spent the money on herself and her husband, mostly on alcohol and cigarettes.

Her father's household bills went unpaid, resulting in utilities being cut off and large debts, and the house became 'shoddy and squalid'.

In June 2014, a funeral and wake took place following the death of Davina Delo's young son, the judge said.

There was a disagreement between Mr Glass and his daughter and son-in-law and the older man went home.

After consuming alcohol the couple went home too and, after Mr Glass refused to let them back in, David Delo repeatedly punched the pensioner.

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Davina Delo then kicked her father to the face and head and, even after a neighbour helped him to his feet, she punched him once more.

Mr Glass left his home after the attack and went to live with another daughter. He said he would 'never recover' psychologically from what he had been put through.

Davina Delo admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and fraud and was locked up for 75 months at Shrewsbury Crown Court on August 26 last year.

The judge who jailed her described her crimes as 'shocking' and pointed to the 'systematic exploitation' of her 'vulnerable' father.

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But her lawyers argued her punishment was far too tough and three Appeal Court judges today cut her sentence to 64 months.

Mrs Justice Simler, sitting with Lord Justice Burnett and Mr Justice William Davis, said the sentence for the fraud offence was too long.

David Delo was jailed for 43 months after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Dismissing his appeal, the judge said his punishment was 'severe' but 'not excessive'.