Abelia pruning

I have an Abelia Grandiflora which is about five years old and becoming rather leggy at the base. It has also suffered a bit of frost damage.
I have removed the damaged bits and pruned back to near the base approx a third of the plant but am wondering if It would be better to prune the whole thing hard back to for example about 8 inches from the base.

What do you think? It has really lost its shape alot and stands about five foot tall.

Thanks

 

I don`t know about cutting it back to about 8" but I would certainly cut it hard enough to get it back in shape.:thumb:

 

Thanks
If i cut into the old wood do you think that it will regrow? It is bare for the first approx 18 inches!

 

If there is no growth at all in that 18" then no, do not cut into it.