Hi,

My brother, Rory, was arrested on the first night of his holiday in Bangkok on 9th March due to a misunderstanding.

He was out in a bar. He normally keeps his phone in his pocket and had forgotten that he had a travel waist bag where he was keeping his valuables. At some point, he went to get his phone, couldn't find it in his pocket and saw the same phone as his sitting on the bar. He picked it up thinking it was his and put it in his pocket.

The girl whose phone it actually was saw him taking it and got the police involved, thinking he had stolen it. By the time Rory realised his mistake, he was already arrested and all his belongings taken off him.

He spent 2 nights in a Thai jail with horrendous conditions and then was released on bail. His passport was taken off him and he was told he couldn't leave the country until his court case. He went to the Embassy who advised that they can't get involved in criminal cases.

The police advised him it would help his case if he could get a photo with the woman or an email from the woman whose phone he picked up to show that she accepts it was a misunderstanding. He did email her and got a reply back saying she was no longer in Bangkok but that she does accept his apology and understands that it was a misunderstanding.

Fast forward 2 weeks- he was due to appear in court but the police officer advised him that the judge that day would likely give him a 3 year jail sentence so it would be best to wait for a more lenient judge(one who would just give him a 'hefty' fine)

Up until now, he hasn't got a lawyer as he can't afford it but we now feel that this is necessary. That is why I have started this fundraiser- A lawyer will be very expensive and he has already had to pay £1000 bail money, various payments to the police(This was advised by the embassy), he is now on 'holiday' spending more money that he hadn't budgeted for and has missed his flight home. Of course, his travel insurance won't cover any of this

As a family, we are desperate to get Rory home. He has to get back for his son and his work. We are also extremely concerned that the police are still talking about jail sentences when he is innocent of the crime of theft.

Please if you can help Rory and us to raise the money to get him home, no matter how small an amount, we will be eternally grateful.

We appreciate all of your support while we're navigating this unprecedented and scary ordeal.

Thanks so much,

Joanna