A LAWYER who battled to free jailed Liverpool FC fan Michael Shields was runner-up for a national award for the second time.

John Weate, a partner at Birkenhead firm Robert Moore Nicholas Jones, was part of the team which fought to clear Michael’s name.

Following the success of the campaign, Mr Weate’s colleagues secretly nominated him for Criminal Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year.

Their bid was backed by engineering student Michael, who wrote a supporting letter, as did his parents.

Mr Weate, 54, was shortlisted to the final three, but at the London ceremony last Wednesday was named runner-up.

Mr Weate said: “I’m still very proud of the fact that I’ve come runner-up. At the end of the day, we won the most important case and secured Michael’s freedom with a Royal Pardon.

“That means more than any award.”

During the ceremony, references from police chiefs and judges were read out on Mr Weate’s behalf, while Michael’s letter was read last.

Mr Weate, who started his legal career as a “teaboy” at Widnes Magistrates, handed Michael his Pardon, which sealed his freedom, at his 23rd birthday party last September.

The award was won by Sheffield solicitor Peter Mahy, whose landmark case before European judges established that the UK Government’s policy of retaining the DNA of innocent people was unlawful.