A victim of an “arrogant and predatory” art teacher who sexually abused two pupils says the justice system has failed her after his prison sentence was slashed by almost two years.

The brave woman – now a 26-year-old mum – watched in court in February as “manipulative” Robert Appleby was jailed for a catalogue of sexual offences against the teenage girls.

But she told this week of her shock as judges cut the former Herne Bay High School teacher’s sentence on appeal from seven years and nine months to six years.

The victim, who alerted the school’s head teacher to Appleby’s abuse in a letter years later, says she only learned of the appeal from police a week before last Wednesday’s hearing.

"I wasn’t given the opportunity to describe how his behaviour had effectively given me a life sentence.

"You are a vain and arrogant man with serious deficiencies in your sexual attitudes. You lied, and lied, and lied again to the police and at your trial" - trial judge

“The judges only got to hear his side of it, so I’m not surprised he got the outcome he was after, but I am shocked by just how much his sentence was cut.

“I actually thought his original jail term wasn’t long enough, given the abuse and torment he put myself and another victim through.

“I hoped the court would throw the appeal out, so to see the sentence slashed by 21 months leaves me feeling that I have been completely failed by the judicial system.”

Appleby, 43, of Staplegate Mews, Canterbury, was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court in December last year of offences of sexual activity with a child and of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making an indecent photograph of a child and of perverting the course of justice.

The judge told him: “You are a vain and arrogant man with serious deficiencies in your sexual attitudes.

“You lied, and lied, and lied again to the police and at your trial.”

But last week at the Court of Appeal, Michael Haynes, for Appleby, argued the overall jail term was far too tough, highlighting his client’s lack of previous convictions.

Mr Justice Baker, sitting with Lord Justice McCombe and Sir Alistair MacDuff, agreed, saying they were persuaded the total term was excessive and reduced it to six years.

The victim, who says her life has been blighted by Appleby, said: “He will only serve three years and that is in no way reflective of what he has done.

“He has at least lost his career and been put on the sex offenders’ register, but I worry that cutting his sentence sends out the wrong message to other victims who might be deterred from reporting abuse.

“I can only say I got amazing support from the police all the way through and felt I was taken seriously from the start, and would urge others who are victims to still come forward.”