evidence against his partners in crime.

Yusef DeSilva, 30, was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison for his part in the April 1997 heist at the Bank of Bermuda in Somerset.

DeSilva and two other men, Rupert Archibald and Michael Dillas, got away with more than $37,000 in the raid, in which bank staff were held at gunpoint.

DeSilva later confessed to his role in the crime and, after being sentenced, was able to give Police "crucial'' evidence against his co-defendants, who had entered not guilty pleas. As a result of his testimony both Archibald and Dillas were convicted and given prison terms of 30 and 18 years respectively.

Yesterday the Court of Appeal ruled that because DeSilva had cooperated with the Police in securing a conviction of the other two men, his sentence should be reduced by four years.

"Subsequently to being sentenced he agreed to give evidence and gave evidence against two other defendants who had been indicted jointly with him in the commission of the robbery,'' the judgment read...

"We were informed by Counsel for the Crown that the applications are not now opposed and that the applicant's evidence was crucial and assisted the Crown in convicting the other two robbers.''