- Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum, both 20, were found with 1.5million worth of cocaine in their suitcases en route to Spain
- Two women were taken from the Virgen de Fatima Prison on the outskirts of Lima to a makeshift court at Sarita Coloni men's jail
- They plead guilty to the charges in front of a judge after speaking for half an hour each
- The pair could serve out their sentences in Britain if a transfer is agreed by the authorities
- Speaking from prison earlier this month, Miss Reid said 'Pleading guilty is going to get me back to my family sooner rather than later'
By Wills Robinson, Gerard Couzens and Louise Eccles
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The two British women accused of trying to smuggle 1.5million of cocaine out of Peru pleaded guilty in front of a judge yesterday.
Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum Connolly admitted trying to board a flight from Lima to Spain on August 6 knowing they had 24lb of the class-A drug in their suitcases.
The women continue to claim that a gun-toting Colombian mafia forced them to act as drug mules.
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Accused: Melissa Reid, right, and Michaella McCollum are escorted from a truck by police at Sarita Colonia prison ahead of their court appearance
Police escort: The pair were handcuffed as they were taken from Virgen de Fatima Prison on the outskirts of the capital, to a court in the city centre wearing their own clothes
Behind bars: After the pair arrived at the court, they were detained in a holding cell, surrounded by guards, as they awaited their appearance in front of a judge
But, after police rubbished their 'illogical' story, they decided to plead guilty in the hope of securing shorter sentences.
They are expected to be jailed for six years and eight months at a hearing as early as next week.
This is 16 months shorter than the minimum sentence, eight years, in recognition of their early plea.
It also means they will not have to stand trial on drugs trafficking charges.
Reid, from Lenzie near Glasgow, and McCollum Connolly, from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, both 20, admitted drugs trafficking at a hearing closed to the Press.
It took place at a men's jail in Lima called Sarita Colonia. They were driven the short distance from the notorious prison Virgen de Fatima, where they are being held, to enter their pleas separately.
The two women arrived at the court handcuffed and in their own clothes, Miss Reid carrying a plastic bag and Miss McCollum a bottle of water as they were surrounded by guards.
They were led into a holding cell in the court room, awaiting their second appearance in front of a judge since they were arrested.
Both Miss Reid and Miss McCollum stood up and spoke separately for half an hour after being asked their names.
After the hearing they were taken back to the prison that has been their home since August 22.
A spokesman for the fourth criminal court of Callao, in charge of the judicial investigation into Melissa and Michaella, confirmed: 'Both women have pleaded guilty to drugs trafficking.
'It means they automatically benefit from a sixth of the minimum jail sentence of eight years and will be sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.
Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid looked down as they were led away from the prison by guards
Darkness: The pair were led into the back of a prison van as they prepared themselves for for the journey
'Sentencing has not taken place yet and a new hearing where the women will be sentenced has now got to be arranged.
'But it's likely that will take place in around a week's time.'
The lawyer for Miss McCollum and Miss Reid refused to comment to reporters on the content of of the hearing.
Attorney Meyer Fishman said he could not comment until the trial has concluded.
It has been reported the pair could serve their sentence in this country if Britain agrees to a transfer.
Melissa's parents, energy company manager Billy, 54, and National Grid administrator Debra, 53, insisted last week they still believed their daughter was forced into carrying cocaine through Lima's Jorge Chavez airport.
Mrs Reid said: 'She was definitely carrying the drugs in her luggage. That's for sure.
'But we still believe she was coerced into it. Obviously now we realise she needs to plead guilty just to get her home.'
Supplies: Michaella McCollum, left, clutched onto a water bottle while Melissa Reid carried a plastic bag as they were let out of the van by police officers
Court: Melissa Reid stands up in a holding cell during her hearing
Home clothes: Melissa Reid, right, and McCollum Connolly both wore black leggings as they were escorted from a truck by police at Sarita Colonia prison in Callao, Peru
Miss Reid, speaking from the prison earlier this month, said: 'Pleading guilty is going to get me back to my family sooner rather than later.'
But a legal source close to the case said a transfer could take many years, by which time they could be free, adding: 'It is a very long process and Britain does not often agree to it.'
Miss Reid's father William, 53, from Glasgow, claimed they would apply for her to be moved to a UK prison at the earliest opportunity, saying: 'We could start pushing for her to be transferred to Scotland.'
Miss Reid and Miss McCollum Connolly, from Northern Ireland, will need to show they behaved well in jail, pass 'legal, social, medical and psychological tests' and can fund their own tickets back.
They are currently being held in a classification unit of a women's prison which, charities have warned, has dire conditions.
However, Miss Reid has compared it to a 'Brownie camp', and claimed to have spent a whole day helping Miss McCollum Connolly to dye her hair brown and take out her hair extensions.
The women claimed they were kidnapped in Ibiza and forced to carry the drugs by gun-toting Colombian gangsters who threatened them and their families.
In August the pair wore each other's clothes as they appeared in court for the first time in Lima. A judge told them they would be imprisoned as they awaited trial.
The prison van drives away from the prison, on the outskirts of Lima, en route to a court in the city centre
First court appearance: Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid were told they would be imprisoned as they awaited trial when they were in front of a judge in August
Media frenzy: An enormous group of cameras and reporters were there to meet the pair as they arrived for their first court appearance earlier this summer
The pair looked glum and drawn as they were led away in handcuffs through the back of the court to a holding cell. At one point, Miss Connolly wiped a tear away from her eye.
They were sent to prison because they admitted they knew there was cocaine in their suitcases and could flee Peru if they were bailed.
The women insisted they had no idea they were carrying drugs after police stopped them as they tried to board an Air Europa flight to Madrid and discovered more than five kilos of cocaine disguised as food products in each of their suitcases.
There have been continued concerns over the state of their mental health, with their lawyer claiming last month that they were being held in a 'windowless cage'.
During both court appearances, the pair have looked terrified.
Peru's penal authority says 1,648 foreigners are currently in its prisons on drug trafficking charges, 31 of them British citizens.
Arrest: Melissa Reid, right, and Michaella McCollum, left, when they were detained Jorge Chavez international airport in Callao, near Lima, Peru, allegedly carrying 11 kilograms of cocaine on their way to Madrid, Spain
Ambiguous: Reid, left, and Connolly pose with smiles on the balcony of a holiday flat in Peru before their arrest
Fun times? The pair pose with beers in the sun in Peru before the start of their ill-fated journey home
Miss McCollum Connolly has dyed her black locks brown and had a striking bun for a court appearance last month.
The women are reported to be among the wealthier inmates who can buy treats such as sweets, crisps and chocolate from a food kiosk.
Fellow prisoners said the Britons were being treated 'very well' by inmates and staff because they were foreigners.
Paola Andrade, 56, in jail for attempted murder, added: 'The girls look so young and innocent. I feel really bad for them because they seem so young.
'I can only imagine how horrible it must be to be incarcerated so far away from home and your family.'
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
Why do we have to have them? Jail them out there, that's where they did the crime.
Keep then over there, why should WE pay or taxes for them to be moved to the UK ? If you can do the crime, then you can do the time !!!
Bring these poor girls home now Cameron! They've suffered enough now. - The Sensible One, London, United Kingdom, 24/09/2013 17:48 Comparing it to brownie camp....... Yea sounds like they're suffering loads!!!
We don't want the scumbags back in the UK they should serve the full sentence there.
I love it how each picture is describing what they are wearing as if it's a victoria Beckham article. I'm surprised they didn't name the shops and prices, also funny how everyone going on about the jacket and the bun, since these two have been arrested I've seen them in all the shops.
Yes they are guilty, and extremely stupid! And they took a risk so they should serve time 3 years maybe. But I would give a life sentence to the drug dealers who put them up to it who seem to have gotten away Scott free
Pity it wasn't Thailand!!!
I wish the UK would send overseas criminals back
I really feel for them they're only kids really they should be going after the people nearer the top of the chain!
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Nichi, Reykjavik, Iceland, 6 hours ago
She is still smiling the dark haired girl!! Let her rot there!