JAILED golf ball diver John Collinson today spoke of his delight after his prison sentence was quashed and said the case had turned his life upside down.

The man whose six-month sentence for theft caused a national outcry spoke as his local MP called for a change in the law.

And the owner of the golf club where father-of-two John, of Canterbury Road, Chorley, perfected his pond-diving technique said he would be welcomed back any time.

His six-month jail sentence was quashed yesterday by the Court of Appeal.

Two judges imposed a two-year conditional discharge, meaning that 36-year-old John, who was released on bail on May 3 pending the appeal, does not have to return to prison.

But they warned that the sentence was not a "let-off" and should be seen as a deterrent to further night-time operations.

John has now lodged an appeal against his conviction.

John, known to his family by his middle name Mark, was prosecuted after he donned diving suit and flippers to retrieve lost balls from course lakes.

He was found guilty at Leicester Crown Court last month of theft and going equipped after he was caught with balls collected from the lake at Whetstone Golf Club, Leicester.

His defence was that the balls were abandoned and there was no dishonest intent in retrieving them.

He served nine days of the sentence before being released on bail pending his appeal.

Today he said: "When I heard that I was not going back to jail I was numb but very happy indeed."

But he said his experience made him take more interest in other cases, especially one where a man who had abused a girl had his sentence reduced and was released within two weeks.

He added: "Where's the justice if someone who abuses a girl gets two weeks and I'm in prison for six months for diving for golf balls?

"This sentence has turned my head and my life upside down."

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said he had written to Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine and Home Secretary David Blunkett demanding a review of the law.

He added: "I am pleased to see that common sense has prevailed at last.

"It is just a shame that it has got to this stage and that it has taken so long and caused such upset to my constituent and his family.

"It was absurd that he should be imprisoned for recovering lost property, especially at a time when violence and street crime are escalating.

Tim Evans, co-owner of Euxton Park Golf Centre, said: "We have a couple of ponds and John used to dive here years ago to retrieve golf balls.

"He would always ask permission first and we had no problem with it whatsoever and he would be welcome to come back and do it again.

"The prison sentence was silly."

John was backed in his fight to clear his name by showbiz golfers like Jimmy Tarbuck and Bruce Forsyth, as well as pros such as Colin Montgomerie.

Dave Rostron, manager of UK Lakeballs in Adlington who Mark sold golf balls to, added: "I can't wait for him to come home so I can shake his hand."

John has vowed to get permission with any club whose lakes he plans to dive in future.