A woman convicted of killing her eight-year-old daughter had her sentence reduced at the Court of Appeal this morning.

Polly Chowdhury, 36, and her lesbian lover, Kiki Muddar, 44, inflicted more than 40 injuries – including carpet burns and a bite mark – to Ayesha Ali who was found dead at their home in Broomfield Road, Chadwell Heath, in August 2013.

The pair was found guilty of the girl’s manslaughter with Muddar originally receiving a sentence of 18 years and Chowdhury 13. But today their sentences were reduced by three years apiece, to 15 and ten years respectively.

Lord Justice Treacy, Mrs Justice Carr and Mr Justice Kerr described Muddar’s sentence as “manifestly excessive”.

They also reduced Chowdhury’s sentence to maintain the disparity, in what they called a “difficult and very fact-sensitive exercise”.

Mrs Justice Carr said the facts of the case were “unique in a number of material respects”.

She added the reduction in sentence was not intended to undermine the gravity of what Muddar and Chowdhury did or the seriousness with which the courts treated such crimes.

Jailing Muddar in March, Judge Christopher Moss branded her a “manipulative and wicked” woman who had managed to brainwash her lover into believing that Ayesha was possessed.

The trial heard that Muddar created a fantasy world of alter egos on Facebook and used text messages to seduce Chowdhury and turn her against her daughter because she saw her as a threat to their relationship.