British man jailed in Bali after death penalty charge dropped

A British man has been jailed in Bali for drug offences - and a charge that carried the death penalty was dropped.

A court on the Indonesian island sentenced Thomas Parker, from Cumbria, to 10 months in jail on Tuesday. He was spared the death penalty after a charge that could carry the punishment was dropped.

Parker was arrested on 21 January at a villa near the popular Bali tourist spot, Kuta beach. Police said Parker was "acting suspiciously" when he collected a package containing drugs from a motorcycle taxi driver.

He allegedly discarded the package in a panic and fled the scene when approached by police. The 32-year-old was able to prove that he did not order the package.

It was sent by a drug dealer friend, identified only as Nicky, and Parker was told someone would pick it up from him shortly afterwards. The trial, which began at the Denpasar District Court last month, heard Parker initially refused to collect the package but was assured by Nicky that it was safe and would not put him in danger.

Indonesia has very strict drug laws and people convicted of drug trafficking can be executed by a firing squad. After police established the package was not directly linked to Parker, the initial charge of drug trafficking was reduced to the lesser offence of hiding information from authorities.

The prosecution had sought a year-long prison sentence for Parker, but judges reduced the term as the electrician regretted his actions and had no previous convictions. Read more from Sky News:Liverpool parade collision: What we know so farMan charged with attempted murder of police officer After the panel of three judges handed down the sentence, Parker said he accepted the verdict and would not be lodging an appeal.

"I really, really regret everything that has happened," he said. "I am sorry." Prosecutors have a week to accept or reject the sentence..