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Drugs mule Melissa Reid released from Peru jail and flying back to UK | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Scottish woman jailed in Peru three years ago for smuggling drugs has been released from prison and is set to fly back to the UK. | |
Melissa Reid, 22, from Lenzie, near Glasgow, and Michaella McCollum, from Co Tyrone, were caught with 24lb (11kg) of cocaine at Lima airport in 2013. | Melissa Reid, 22, from Lenzie, near Glasgow, and Michaella McCollum, from Co Tyrone, were caught with 24lb (11kg) of cocaine at Lima airport in 2013. |
They struck a plea deal for a reduced sentence of six years and eight months. | They struck a plea deal for a reduced sentence of six years and eight months. |
Reid was expelled from Peru last month under an early release scheme. It is thought she will return via Amsterdam. | Reid was expelled from Peru last month under an early release scheme. It is thought she will return via Amsterdam. |
She was photographed at Lima airport on Tuesday evening with her father, William, accompanied by immigration officers. | She was photographed at Lima airport on Tuesday evening with her father, William, accompanied by immigration officers. |
McCollum, 23, was released at the end of March under parole conditions which mean that she has to remain in Peru for an undisclosed period of time. | McCollum, 23, was released at the end of March under parole conditions which mean that she has to remain in Peru for an undisclosed period of time. |
Reid has served about a third of her sentence and under Peruvian law was eligible to be deported under an early release scheme for foreign prisoners. | Reid has served about a third of her sentence and under Peruvian law was eligible to be deported under an early release scheme for foreign prisoners. |
She has also paid a fine of 10,000 Peruvian soles, just over £2,000. | She has also paid a fine of 10,000 Peruvian soles, just over £2,000. |
Both women were caught with an estimated £1.5m-worth of cocaine at Lima airport on 6 August 2013 while attempting to board a flight to Madrid, in Spain. | Both women were caught with an estimated £1.5m-worth of cocaine at Lima airport on 6 August 2013 while attempting to board a flight to Madrid, in Spain. |
The cocaine was discovered in food packets hidden inside their luggage. | The cocaine was discovered in food packets hidden inside their luggage. |
They had initially claimed they were forced to carry the drugs, but pleaded guilty to charges later that year. | They had initially claimed they were forced to carry the drugs, but pleaded guilty to charges later that year. |
They had faced the prospect of a maximum 15-year prison term but struck a behind closed doors plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence. | They had faced the prospect of a maximum 15-year prison term but struck a behind closed doors plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence. |
Following her release, McCollum told the Irish broadcaster RTE she had been "very naive, so young and very insecure". | Following her release, McCollum told the Irish broadcaster RTE she had been "very naive, so young and very insecure". |
Reid's father Billy has previously said the impact of his daughter's imprisonment on his family had been "horrendous". | Reid's father Billy has previously said the impact of his daughter's imprisonment on his family had been "horrendous". |
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We continue to provide assistance to Melissa Reid and remain in contact with her family and local authorities." | A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We continue to provide assistance to Melissa Reid and remain in contact with her family and local authorities." |