Scottish drug smuggling accused Melissa Reid’s plea deal hope

The Scottish woman arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5 million out of Peru is prepared to plead guilty in exchange for a short sentence.

Melissa Reid, 20, hopes a plea deal will see her get home to Glasgow as soon as possible. It was reported her deal could get her sentence cut from up to 25 years to just six years and eight months.

Her family believes she could be released in three years.

In a telephone interview, Miss Reid said: “I am really scared about what I am about to do but I am also relieved that there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m now coming to terms with the fact I am so far away from my family.

“This is real. After a lot of thought and advice from my lawyer I am going to go in front of the judge and admit I was in possession of the drugs and that I went to Peru to pick up drugs to take to Spain I am willing to plead guilty to that.

“I did it under duress, I still maintain that.”