THERE are hopes that a Monmouth woman currently stuck in a Portuguese prison could be released at the end of next month.

Sophie Grey has been imprisoned near Lisbon since April after an altercation broke out between a police officer and her boyfriend, who is also being held in prison.

According to her father, Roger Grey, the 25-year-old - who was in the country visiting friends with her boyfriend when the incident occurred - is set to appear in court on September 22.

Mr Grey said his daughter’s solicitors have told him it is likely that Miss Grey will be released.

They also told him that the maximum sentence for her crime is five years in prison though, he added.

The 66-year-old said his daughter’s exact charges are unclear, but she has been charged with assaulting a policeman - which she denies.

He also said there is a charge relating to her dog biting an officer, a charge she also denies and says there is no evidence of.

Mr Grey said at the moment the family are awaiting her trial, and that he and his wife will fly over there when it begins.

He said: “The maximum prison sentence for what she has been charged for is five years but it is expected that she will be released when it comes to trial.

“However, when it does come to trial she will have spent five months in prison anyway.”

The 66-year-old said it has been frustrating for the family but said his daughter is “coping reasonably well”.

“If she had done something heinous and was going to get two years that would be different, but she hasn’t, and if she was in this country she would be charged with breach of the peace and fined,” he added.

“She’s kept her head down and is getting on with it.”