Jailed fan set for return to UK

Michael Shields is serving a 10-year sentence in Bulgaria

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."

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.

Sleep claim

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)."

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.