A WOMAN involved in a robbery which led to the death of a man in a Southend night spot has had her jail sentence reduced.

Ashleigh Wellman had been jailed for two years nine months for her part in a plan to rob a man, who later died.

But her barrister, Maria Dineen, told Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, the sentence should have taken more account of Wellman’s guilty pleas and the fact she gave evidence in the trial of another person involved.

Judge Christopher Ball agreed to the request and cut eight months off her sentence, reducing it to a total of 25 months.

The court heard the victim of the robbery John Murray, 64, was seen as an easy touch for cash and Wellman, 24, came up with a plan to steal from him.

Tthe scheme ended with Mr Murray in a coma from which he never recovered.

He was found lying unconscious with serious head injuries inside the locked Sunrooms bar in Market Place, Southend, in the early hours of July 5 last year.

Mr Murray, who worked as a cleaner in the bar, died at Southend Hospital on September 29, after almost three months in a coma.

Wellman and another woman met Mr Murray for drinks before two male friends attacked and robbed him.

Wellman, of no fixed address, was so concerned about Mr Murray she contacted the emergency services, but the court heard he died later.

She admitted conspiracy to rob, theft and possessing drugs with intent to supply when she p;reviously appeared in court David Graham, 32, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 21 years for Mr Murray’s murder.