A builder who was caged for at least 25 years for the brutal murder of a Jewish prostitute has had his “excessive” sentence slashed by top judges.

Nicolae Patraucean, 21, of Chichester Close, Stanmore, killed 55-year-old Rivka Holden after going to her Colindale flat last March.

Israeli-born Miss Holden's bloodied body was discovered by police after Patraucean confessed to his family.

The Romanian admitted murder at the Old Bailey last June and was handed a minimum term of 25 years.

But on Friday, three judges said the term was too tough and cut it to 20 years.

Mr Justice Sweeney told the Court of Appeal that Patraucean's attack on Miss Holden was described by a pathologist as “ferocious”.

Her face and body were scored with deep and long gashes, caused by a work knife Patraucean had with him.

She was also strangled and subjected her to repeated beatings with a blunt object, likely to be fists.

Afterwards, Patraucean told his family what he had done and, after bumping into three police officers, confessed.

He said he had been drinking and taking drugs, had met Miss Holden in Burnt Oak, and agreed to go to her flat for sex.

But he claimed he became angry when she took money from his pocket. He said he could not remember what happened next.

Mr Justice Sweeney, who heard the appeal with Lady Justice Sharp and Judge Eleri Rees QC, said the result was a “manifestly excessive” minimum term.

He said: “He pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity...it seems to us that it is appropriate to reduce the minimum term to 20 years."

Patraucean can only be freed after serving his minimum term if the Parole Board is convinced it is safe to do so.