LIVERPOOL football fan Michael Shields yesterday failed in an attempt to have his sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria reduced.
Shields, 19, from Edge Hill, was jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty of dropping a paving slab on a man's head during a fight in Varna in May.
The teenager's legal team now has 15 days to lodge an appeal with Bulgaria's supreme court where they will attempt to have the conviction overturned.
Mr Shields' parents, Michael and Maria, are in Bulgaria visiting their son.
Mr Shields senior said: "We are heartbroken. We really expected to get something off the sentence, and Michael did too.
"All we can do now is move on to the next stage of the appeal, and hope the court in Sofia do the right thing and overturn his conviction."
Mrs Shields added: "Michael is suffering in jail, he shouldn't be there.
"He has lost a lot of weight and he looks pale, like he's not getting enough fresh air.
"We desperately need to get him out."
Michael Shields was staying in the Black Sea resort of Golden Sands after watching Liverpool FC win the Champions League in neighbouring Turkey.
He has always denied playing any part in the fight, and insists he was asleep in his hotel at the time of the early hours brawl.
Another man, Graham Sankey from Anfield, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to a Merseyside solicitor, but the evidence was rejected at Mr Shields' original trial in Varna.
