Billy Burton arrives back in the UK

Home at last! Thalidomide sufferer Billy Burton is back in the UK after spending 20 years in prisons in the Philippines.

Published on 03/04/2012 10:46

AN emotional Billy Burton has spoken of his joy at being back in England after 20 years imprisoned in the Philippines.

The former Wetherby High School pupil and Thalidomide victim – who was convicted of trying to smuggle drugs out of the country in 1993 – landed at Heathrow this morning.

He was due to return home last week after receiving a Boxing Day pardon by Philippine authorities but was turned away from boarding the plane at the last minute.

He was originally only supposed to spend 10 years behind bars but had his sentence extended on numerous occasions.

Wetherby MP Alec Shelbrooke tweeted his joy at Billy returning home. He said: “Overjoyed to have just welcomed Billy Burton back home after twenty years imprisoned in the Philippines.”

Ackrill Media Group journalist Andrew Groves has been at the forefront of reporting Billy Burton updates over the last two years.

He was at Heathrow to welcome Billy back home this morning and he is currently interviewing him for an exclusive in-depth feature which will be in the Harrogate Advertiser and Wetherby News on Friday.

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Billy Burton arrives back in the UK

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