This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-36590284
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Drugs mule Melissa Reid released from Peru jail and flying back to UK | Drugs mule Melissa Reid released from Peru jail and flying back to UK |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A Scottish woman jailed in Peru for smuggling drugs has been released from prison and is flying back to the UK. | A Scottish woman jailed in Peru for smuggling drugs has been released from prison and is flying back to the UK. |
| Melissa Reid, 22, from Lenzie, near Glasgow, was arrested with Michaella McCollum, of Co Tyrone, after being caught with 24lb (11kg) of cocaine at Lima airport in 2013. | Melissa Reid, 22, from Lenzie, near Glasgow, was arrested with Michaella McCollum, of Co Tyrone, after being 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 ordered to be expelled from Peru last month under an early release scheme. | |
| She is thought to be returning via Amsterdam. | |
| Reid arrived at Lima airport on Tuesday evening with her father, William. She was accompanied by British embassy staff, and taken through security by Peruvian immigration officers overseeing her deportation. | |
| It is understood that Reid will not have a criminal record in the UK as a result of her Peruvian conviction. | |
| Any offences she committed in the UK before she became a drugs mule would remain. | |
| 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 according to the early release scheme for foreign prisoners. | Reid has served about a third of her sentence and under Peruvian law was eligible to be deported according to the 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. |
| A spokeswoman for Peru's prison service, Janeth Sanchez, said Reid "served her time in prison according to the law and can now go to her country, free". | A spokeswoman for Peru's prison service, Janeth Sanchez, said Reid "served her time in prison according to the law and can now go to her country, free". |
| A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed it was not involved with Reid's case. | A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed it was not involved with Reid's case. |
| Hidden in food packets | Hidden in food packets |
| Both Reid and McCollum 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 Reid and McCollum 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." |
| How to move on after spending time in a foreign jail | |
| Sandra Gregory was initially sentenced to death in Thailand after being caught with 3.1oz (89g) of heroin at Bangkok's Don Muang Airport in February 1993. | |
| That was eventually commuted to life imprisonment and she spent more than four years in a Thai prison before being transferred to the UK and eventually given a royal pardon by the King of Thailand in 2000. | |
| Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme she added: "I hope it is a lot easier for Melissa - she's a lot younger than I was. She's been away for less than three years. | |
| "Hopefully it's the equivalent of a practical university experience that she can move on from." | |
| She added: "When I first meet people it is relevant - it seems to be the most relevant point - but what I say to people is I made a mistake. | |
| "She has made a mistake. Has nobody else ever made a mistake?" | |
| Read more |