Jack Shepherd, the speedboat killer, has abandoned his fight against extradition and could return to the UK to face justice within a week, according to reports.

The 31-year-old fugitive has been in custody in Georgia since January after handing himself into the authorities following ten months on the run.

He was convicted in his absence of the manslaughter by gross negligence of Charlotte Brown, 24, who died when his defective speedboat crashed on the Thames during a date. He was sentenced to six years in jail.

Shepherd had vowed to fight extradition, claiming his life would be in danger if he served his sentence in Britain.

But it emerged on Sunday that he would consent to return at a hearing in Tiblisi, where he is detained in a maximum security jail, due to take place this week.