A PRESTON man who was jailed for stealing designer clothes has been freed - so he can look after his agoraphobic wife.

Kenneth William Locke, 52, of Victoria Park Avenue, admitted two counts of theft at Manchester Crown Court on June 18, 1998, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

His co-accused, a man called Stafford, was jailed for nine months, and was an employee of the import firm which stored the designer clothes.

But, on Tuesday, three top judges at London's Criminal appeal Court replaced Locke's jail term with a conditional discharge, enabling his immediate release.

Locke's lawyers argued that, although £4,500 worth of stock had been stolen from a designer clothes firm, he had only been involved in take £500 pounds worth.

They also said Locke was desperately needed at home to take care of his wife who suffers from panic attacks, depression and agoraphobia - fear of open spaces.

According to Locke's lawyers, his prison sentence had had a devastating effect on his wife.

Mr Justice Collins said the sentencing judge had given special consideration to the grave effect of the jail sentence on Locke's wife.

He said: "She has the misfortune to suffer from agoraphobia, panic attacks and depression.

"Indeed, when Locke was sentenced she collapsed in distressing circumstances."

The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Otton and Judge Simon Fawcus QC, concluded: "This was an offence committed by a man of good character, assisting a company employee to carry out a breach of trust."

Taking into consideration the two months already served behind bars, Mr Justice Collins said a conditional discharge was appropriate so that he could be released immediately.

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