Melissa Reid, the Scottish woman accused of drug smuggling, is apparently going to plead guilty in exchange for a shorter prison sentence.

According to the Mail on Sunday Reid has agreed a deal that will give her a formal sentence of six years and eight months but could see her released in three and possibly moved to a prison in the UK.

Melissa Reid is said to be pleading guilty in return for a shorter sentence. 

She told the newspaper: “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 the drugs to take to Spain – I am willing to plead guilty to that.”

Reid maintains that she was threatened at gunpoint by a criminal gang: “I did it under duress, I still maintain that, and I am glad I do not have to say I accepted money to do it.”

She added: “Pleading guilty is going to enable me to get back to my family in Scotland sooner rather than later… I do not want to be in jail until 35 – I can’t get back those years.”

The girls were caught with cocaine which was concealed in dried food packages. 

Reid and Michaella McCollum, from Northern Ireland, were stopped at Lima airport at the beginning of August with 24lbs of cocaine in their possession. They were facing up to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking.

The lawyer of McCollum has also hinted that her client may go down the same route as Reid. The pair are currently being held at Virgen de Fatima women’s prison in Lima.