Freed Richey arrives home in UK

The 43-year-old, who once came within an hour of execution, arrived in the UK after 21 years in captivity at a US prison.

The Scot was released from jail in Ohio on Monday after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors over an arson attack in which a two-year-old girl died. He was met by scores of journalists and onlookers as he emerged into the international arrivals lounge at Edinburgh Airport.

Looking pale and exhausted, he told reporters: "It's good to be back home. It feels great. I'm glad to be back. I would like to thank everybody who supported me all those years."

Wearing a grey jacket, jeans and white trainers, and accompanied by his brother Steven, he was confronted by a gathering of around 80 media representatives and onlookers and 16 police officers.

He paused briefly for photographers and to make his short statement before heading outside into the wet Scottish winter evening. He nodded towards a group of supporters holding banners from the human rights charity Amnesty International as he made his way to an awaiting car, followed by the media crowd. Asked what he thought of the US justice system, he replied simply: "It sucks."

Richey held up a large Scottish Lion Rampant flag before going into the silver vehicle and being whisked away from the airport.

The Scot was put on death row in January 1987 after being convicted of an arson attack on a block of flats in an Ohio town in which Cynthia Collins, a two-year-old girl, died.

In August last year the sentence was overturned at the Cincinnati Court of Appeal and he was moved from the notorious Mansfield Correctional Institution in Ohio to a low-security prison.

He pleaded no contest on Monday to charges of attempted involuntary manslaughter, child endangering, and breaking and entering at the Putnam County Common Pleas Court in Ottawa, Ohio. He was sentenced to a total of 21 years - time he had already served.