Kinsella was captured on the outskirts of Greater Manchester after a high-speed chase with police on the A1 and M62.

The prosecution alleged that Kinsella and McMullen, who acted as a look-out, were part of a joint enterprise to commit a planned robbery at the depot.

Kinsella claimed he was in the area to collect a £100,000 debt, but was convicted by the jury and sentenced.

Yesterday, Gordon Aspden, for Kinsella, and Charles Benson, for McMullen, argued that the sentences on the robbery count – 13 years for Kinsella and 12 for McMullen – were “manifestly excessive”.

And, despite the fact that Kinsella has never been caught, the judges agreed.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, who heard the case with Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Tugendhat, said: “We do conclude that the sentences passed, on Kinsella of 13 years for robbery and McMullen of 12 years, were manifestly excessive.”

“In our judgement, the correct sentence for each was 10 years.”

A one-year term for dangerous driving and three months for failing to surrender to bail, imposed on Kinsella, had been ordered to run consecutive to the robbery sentence.

He will, therefore, serve 11 years and three months - if he is caught.