A 37-year-old man from Edinburgh could face up to three years in a Thai jail after being accused of stealing a mobile phone during a backpacking trip. Rory McColl was arrested in Bangkok shortly after arriving on 9 March and has since been unable to leave the country. He is currently awaiting a court hearing scheduled for 28 April.
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Mr McColl had travelled to Thailand for a planned 12-day holiday but was detained on his first night after visiting a bar on Khao San Road. He told his parents he mistakenly picked up a phone he believed to be his own, only later realising it belonged to someone else. Police were called by bar staff, and he spent two nights in custody before being released on bail of approximately GBP1,000, with his passport confiscated.
His parents, Helen and John McColl, said he described the conditions in the cell as “horrendous”, sleeping on a concrete floor using a plastic bottle as a pillow. They have remained in daily contact with him via FaceTime while he stays in a hotel in Pattaya. Mr McColl said he rarely leaves the hotel, occasionally going out for short walks.
Mr McColl said he had communicated with the woman whose phone he took and the BBC has seen an email exchange that appears to support his claim of a misunderstanding, though its authenticity has not been verified. The woman has since stopped responding. Thai police have stated there is no record indicating the incident was accidental and confirmed the charge of theft by night remains in place.
During his detention, Mr McColl said he was approached by a man claiming to be a lawyer, to whom he made two payments. His current legal representative has advised the family that this was likely a scam. His parents said they became suspicious after the man repeatedly failed to provide assistance and gave conflicting advice about court appearances.
Thai law prescribes a penalty of one to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 to 10,000 Thai baht for the offence. A police officer from Chanasongkhram police station confirmed the case has progressed to the prosecutor’s level and that further details will be addressed in court.
The BBC reported that the UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting a British national detained abroad and is in contact with Thai authorities. Mr McColl told his parents he hopes to return home soon but remains uncertain about the outcome of the case.
Pictures courtesy of BBC
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Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 26 Apr 2026