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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Jailed fan set for return to UK | Jailed fan set for return to UK |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A football fan jailed in Bulgaria for a crime he claims he did not commit could be back in Britain within a week. | A football fan jailed in Bulgaria for a crime he claims he did not commit could be back in Britain within a week. |
| The Bulgarian authorities said the formalities had been completed to allow Michael Shields, 19, Liverpool, to serve his sentence in Britain. | The Bulgarian authorities said the formalities had been completed to allow Michael Shields, 19, Liverpool, to serve his sentence in Britain. |
| Shields is serving 10 years for the attempted murder of a barman during a brawl in Varna in May 2005. | Shields is serving 10 years for the attempted murder of a barman during a brawl in Varna in May 2005. |
| A spokeswoman for the campaign to clear his name said: "He could be back by next weekend." | A spokeswoman for the campaign to clear his name said: "He could be back by next weekend." |
| Innocence campaign | |
| The Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday that the Bulgarian authorities had authorised the transfer. | |
| A spokesman said: "We will now be making arrangements for the transfer of Michael Shields to a UK prison." | |
| The Shields family have campaigned to prove his innocence and, in the meantime, have him moved to a British prison. | |
| The Bulgarian court had ordered that a fine of almost £70,000, and interest, together totalling nearly £90,000, had to be paid before Michael was able to be transferred. | The Bulgarian court had ordered that a fine of almost £70,000, and interest, together totalling nearly £90,000, had to be paid before Michael was able to be transferred. |
| Sleep claim | Sleep claim |
| The money was collected by his family and supporters in a fundraising campaign and has now been paid. | The money was collected by his family and supporters in a fundraising campaign and has now been paid. |
| Bulgarian prosecutor Kamen Mihov told the news agency AFP: "The lengthy procedure of Shields' transfer was finally completed as his family paid the 200,000-leva (£68,580) fine together with the accumulated interest of 50,000-leva (£17,145)." | Bulgarian prosecutor Kamen Mihov told the news agency AFP: "The lengthy procedure of Shields' transfer was finally completed as his family paid the 200,000-leva (£68,580) fine together with the accumulated interest of 50,000-leva (£17,145)." |
| Shields has always insisted he played no part in the attack on the barman, claiming he was asleep in his hotel when it took place. | Shields has always insisted he played no part in the attack on the barman, claiming he was asleep in his hotel when it took place. |
| Another Liverpool man, 20-year-old Graham Sankey, made a written confession to the attack after returning to the UK, although his solicitor now claims he was referring to a different brawl. | Another Liverpool man, 20-year-old Graham Sankey, made a written confession to the attack after returning to the UK, although his solicitor now claims he was referring to a different brawl. |