Ian Stafford, 59, an odd-job man and former mayor of Preesall and Knott End, was caught naked from the waist down on a security camera set up in the bedroom of one of his victims.

Stafford, of Sandicroft Place, Preesall, admitted two counts of burglary at Preston Crown Court in January and was sentenced to two years imprisonment. He stood down as mayor after his arrest.

But at the Criminal Court of Appeal in London, Stafford's lawyers argued the sentence was over the top given his previous good character and the low odds of him re-offending.

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, sitting with Lord Justice Pill and Mr Justice Foskett, told the court Stafford was caught last June after working as a gardener for a woman and her husband since 2004.

She added: "He had gained their trust and was permitted to be in their house when they were absent.

"But they began to notice underwear was going missing and set up a CCTV camera."

Stafford was left alone one day last June and was caught on CCTV naked from the waist down "grabbing two handfuls of underwear" from a drawer before lying on a bed and committing a sex act.

The judge added: "The police searched his home and found a large amount of ladies underwear. He admitted the theft of underwear had been going on for some 12 months."

Richard Haworth, defending, said Stafford's two-year sentence was "manifestly excessive".

He added: "Mr Stafford was of good character with impeccable references. A petition of almost 400 signatures was raised by villagers supporting him and his release."

Halving Stafford's prison sentence, Mrs Justice Davies said: "Mr Stafford is remorseful and will forever be ashamed of what occurred. That in itself is a real punishment for a man of hitherto good character.

"A custodial sentence was appropriate.

"However, taking into account the low risk of re-offending, the peculiar nature of the offence, and the appellant's remorse, we are of the view the sentence was manifestly excessive.

"We replace it with a sentence of one year in custody."