This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/6087752.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Jailed fan set for return to UK | Jailed fan set for return to UK |
(about 3 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, of Liverpool, to serve his sentence in Britain. | |
The Liverpool fan 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 | Innocence campaign |
The Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday that the Bulgarian authorities had authorised the transfer. | 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." | 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 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. |