A WOMAN who pretended her baby had died and conned people out of thousands of pounds has had her sentence cut on appeal.

Katie Rose Ringer, 20, carried out a series of "cruel" online cons between 2012 and 2014.

But today her sentence was cut on appeal from two years and nine months to two years.

The "troubled" young woman pretended to need money for her dead baby's funeral and also begged for cash to support a fictional sick child - preying on the kindness of neighbours and strangers in Shoebury.

Ringer, now of Soleme Road, Norwich, Norfolk, carried out the £3,000 frauds from an address in Shoebury.

She also abused a number of victims over the internet, posting photos of their children accompanied by "vile" comments.

Childless Ringer was finally caught and caged for two years nine months at Basildon Crown Court in March last year.

She admitted 14 counts of fraud, eight of harassment and one of threatening to destroy or damage property.

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But Lord Justice Bean, Mrs Justice Andrews and Judge David Stockdale QC, sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court, today cut her sentence to two years.

Ringer was a teenager when she committed her crimes and the judges ruled that not enough account had been taken of her emotional problems.

She set up a fake account on an online fundraising page to ask kind-hearted members of the public to put money towards a fictional child's funeral costs.

Ringer lifted photos of other people's children from Facebook to support her 'web of lies', the court heard.

The con included claims she needed money to feed a young child who had specialist dietary needs.

Mrs Justice Andrews said: "She preyed upon the charity and generosity of members of the public, particularly those who were concerned for the welfare of children.

"The victims were not wealthy and were left devastated."

The judge added: "The grounds of appeal are that insufficient regard was given to her age, difficult psychiatric history and the principle of totality when sentencing.

"We find there is force in the submissions made on behalf of Ringer.

"While there was no excuse for her behaviour, and she well knew what she was doing, she was at the time only 17 or 18 years old.

"She was of previous relatively good character and had significant vulnerabilities of her own, which continue to date.

"She remains a significantly troubled young woman. We consider this sentence to be excessive. This appeal is allowed.

"The total sentence of two years nine months is quashed and, in its place, we impose a total sentence of two years detention," the judge concluded.