Richey's tears over cancer battle

Kenny Richey was freed from prison in January

Freed Death Row Scot Kenny Richey has spoken about his battle against mouth cancer.

Richey, who spent more than two decades in an American jail awaiting execution, said he wept after doctors told him he was suffering from the disease.

But the 43-year-old from Edinburgh said he was determined to fight the illness so he could return to the US and visit his grandchildren.

He is due to have a malignant growth inside his cheek removed next week.

He will then undergo a course of radiotherapy.

Richey told the Scottish Sun: "When my specialist told me the tests were positive I just broke down in tears.

After spending 21 hellish years in prison I thought I had been given another chance at life Kenny Richey

"I had tried to prepare myself for the worst but actually hearing the news was just devastating.

"After spending 21 hellish years in prison I thought I had been given another chance at life."

Richey left Scotland at the age of 18 to go and live with his father in Ohio.

The former marine was put on death row in January 1987 after being convicted of an arson attack in which a two-year-old girl died.

He was freed after reaching a plea deal last year with American prosecutors, and has been back in Britain since January.

On his release, Richey, who once came within an hour of execution, was told to stay out of Putney County in Ohio for five years.

He is, however, free to visit other parts of the country and had been planning to visit his son and grandchildren, who live in Minnesota.

Richey has always denied setting fire to the building in which toddler, Cynthia Collins, died.