The sentence of British football fan Michael Shields was taken down from 15 to 10 years, BBC reported.

Shields will serve a prison term for a premeditated murder attempt. The Bulgarian Supreme Court decreased the sentence but declined requests for a re-trial.

The British said he was innocent. According to the testimony Shields was in his room at the time Bulgarian bartender Martin Georgiev was attacked and hit with a stone on the head.

Shields’ aunt Jeanette Shields said the family is confused and disappointed.

The case gained popularity after another man, Graham Sankey, confessed from the UK he attacked Georgiev.

Sankey refused to appear before Bulgarian court and his confession was not counted as evidence, BBC reported.

Liverpool Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy said the denied re-trial is a disappointing development.

The UK Foreign Office cannot interfere in the Bulgarian legal proceedings, BBC reported.

Shields’ lawyer can now apply for transfer, enabling their client serve the sentence in a British prison, BBC reported.