THE FAMILY of jailed teenager Michael Shields have welcomed a bid by the Foreign Office to have crucial new evidence accepted at his appeal.
Minister of state Douglas Alexander confirmed his department urged the Bulgarian courts to interview Graham Sankey, who has confessed to carrying out the assault Michael received a 15-year sentence for, when considering the appeal two weeks ago.
But instead only a copy of Sankey's admission was included in the bundle of papers passed on by the appeal team.
Now British government officials will renew attempts to have relevant new evidence considered by the Bulgarians.
The move shows UK ministers have faith in Michael's innocence and will continue to press their Bulgarian counterparts and law officers.
He must wait the outcome of his first appeal - intended to reduce his sentence - before one make-or-break appeal in the new year.
Michael's father, Michael snr, 46, said: "This shows that the government is fighting our corner. I'm pleased.
"There are lots of things we'd like the Bulgarians to re-examine, but the most important is their decision not to inter-view Sankey.
"When Michael was arrested one of the other lads, a mate of Sankey's, told the police they'd never seen Michael before and he had nothing to do with it."
