Graham Sankey"s confession

Jul 29 2005

Liverpool Echo

"I GRAHAM SANKEY, wish to make the following confession: On Sunday, May 29 2005 I was in the Bulgarian resort of Golden Sands near to the Port of Varna at about 5am.

I could see bottles being thrown and as I drew closer a bottle smashed on the wall behind my head. As I turned to see where the bottle had come from I saw three men running at me with bottles and bricks in their hands.

I panicked and stupidly picked up a brick and threw it in the direction of the men running towards me. I saw the brick hit one of them. I panicked and I turned and ran away and returned to the hotel.

I did not know at that time that Mr Martin Georgiev had been injured.

I was arrested (with others) by the Bulgarian police.

The following day I was questioned by an investigator. I was utterly terrified and denied any involvement in the incident.

I still did not know about the injuries to Mr Georgiev. I was then released and I discovered that Mr Georgiev had been seriously injured. I then returned to Liverpool.

I accept that I must have caused the serious injury to Mr Georgiev.

My conscience has been tormenting me ever since. I read in the papers about Michael Shields" trial, and I felt that I could not let an innocent man take the blame for what I had done.

So I instructed my solicitor, Mr David Kirwan, to make public my acceptance of responsibility and my willingness to accept fully the consequences of my actions.

I expected that the Bulgarian court would accept my admission and free Mr Shields. I was horrified that the court has refused to do this, so I am making this signed confession in the hope that an innocent man will no longer have to take responsibility for what I admit I did.

Finally, I want to say that I bitterly regret what I did to Mr Georgiev. I wholeheartedly apologise to him, his family and the Bulgarian authorities.

I am only 20 years old, and am appalled that I have ruined Mr Georgiev"s life and that Michael Shields, an innocent man, has received blame for what I did.

I just wish that I had my time over again."

P.S. Майкъл Шийлдс бе върнат в родината си на 23 ноември 2006 г.,

където излежава остатъка от присъдата си в затвора в Престън.

Престъплението

Майкъл Шийлдс бе осъден през 2005 г. на 15 години затвор за това, че през май 2005 г. разби с камък главата на бармана Мартин Георгиев в Златни пясъци. В нощта на престъплението група фенове на "Ливърпул" чупят бирени бутилки в морския курорт. При опит да ги спре Мартин Георгиев е повален на земята и Майкъл Шийлдс го уцелва в главата с тежащ близо 4 кг камък. По време на процеса срещу Шийлдс защитата му представи самопризнанията на друг англичанин - Греъм Санки, който обаче вече си беше в Англия. Те не бяха приети, тъй като описаната обстановка в тях силно се разминаваше с показанията на свидетелите. През 2006 г. присъдата на Шийлдс беше намалена на 10 години от Върховния касационен съд и след като изплати обезщетението на роднините на Мартин Георгиев, Майкъл Шийлдс беше трансфериран в Англия.