RICHEY COULD BE 'FREE IN A WEEK'

Kenny Richey has agreed a plea deal in the US which will allow him to walk free and return to Britain.

He was convicted in 1987 of an arson attack on an apartment block in an Ohio town in which a two-year-old girl died.

But in August last year the sentence was overturned.

The 43-year-old had planned to plead no contest to attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering and breaking and entering at a hearing on December 20.

This would have allowed him to walk free.

Just hours before, however, he was taken to hospital following a heart scare and the hearing was postponed.

Richey's lawyer, Ken Parsigan, said the hearing would now take place on January 7.

Richey, originally from Edinburgh, would then fly back to Scotland on January 8, the lawyer added.

"The only reason that will not take place is if he winds up in hospital again."