Scots Backpacker Faces Jail Over Phone Theft in Thailand

On 4/26/2026 at 7:30 AM, fredwiggy said:

If he mistakenly picked up a phone at the bar, his phone likely would have remained at the bar, and if it was close in appearance to his, it was a mistake. Not enough information here. Did he leave the bar with her phone, and how did they find him if he did? He's been talking to his parents on FaceTime, so obviously he got his phone back. Unlikely a man would come to Thailand and then steal a phone right after arriving.

You are talking about a Normal Farang? (maybe an oxymoron, or maybe just a moron)

Maybe this guy is not your normal every-day run-of-the-mill variety of Farang.

UPDATE

Brit Packpacker Faces Court in Thailand Over Phone Incident

Pictures courtesy of The Sun

A British backpacker is facing up to five years in prison in Thailand after new CCTV footage emerged showing the moment he allegedly took another tourist’s phone on his first night out. Rory McColl, 37, was arrested in Bangkok on 9 March and is due to appear in court following the incident on Khao San Road.

The footage, recorded inside Golf Bar, shows Mr McColl reaching across a table, picking up a mobile phone and placing it in his back pocket while dancing nearby. The device belonged to 22-year-old German tourist Melina Muchow, who later realised it was missing and reviewed CCTV with staff before identifying him.

Bar security detained Mr McColl and called police, who took him into custody. Officers said he was “heavily intoxicated” at the time and initially placed in a cell to sober up. According to investigators, he was given an opportunity to apologise and resolve the matter, as the victim initially only wanted an apology.

However, police allege Mr McColl instead verbally abused the woman and her friends, making offensive gestures and shouting insults. Lieutenant Noppasin Piyarat said the language used was “severe”, prompting the victim to pursue legal action. The case was then forwarded to prosecutors before Mr McColl was fully aware of the situation.

Station Superintendent Colonel Niphon Nithikarnkulert said Mr McColl admitted during questioning that he took the phone while intoxicated and “acted without full awareness of his actions”. He added that while alcohol may have been a factor, there was no evidence to prove a lack of intent.

Mr McColl, a father-of-one from Edinburgh, had travelled to Thailand for a planned 12-day holiday but has now remained in the country for seven weeks. His passport has been confiscated under bail conditions, and he is currently staying in a hotel in Pattaya while awaiting the court decision.

Under Thai law, the charge of theft at night carries a potential sentence of one to five years in prison. The outcome of the case will be determined at his court hearing.

Adapted by ASEAN Now The-Sun 28 Apr 2026

Word has it that he used the phone to criticize UK immigration policy and will be picked up at the airport by Starmer's rent boys upon his return to the UK.

He's thinking about trying to get his visa changed from a tourist visa so that he can do some bar work."

Because his passport was confiscated by Thai police upon his initial release, Mr McColl will need to seek help from the British Embassy to apply for any visa changes.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-man-facing-jail-in-thailand-stranded-for-at-least-another-three-months-8014651

That will be an interesting meeting at immigration

On 4/28/2026 at 3:52 PM, Yagoda said:

Typical behavior of English and other European tourists who treat Thailand like a Colonial Country to be pillaged.

He's Scottish, not English.

This will mess up the Go Fund Me his sister set up.

13 minutes ago, lungbing said:

He's Scottish, not English.

Same, just different accents. They are all interelated.

So... he was pished up, picked up the wrong phone, then acted like a t!t...

Other girl, rightly so, might have let it go, but wasn't having any of it when confronted with tvvattery.

Word has it - he's a genuine sweaty - but was brought up in liverpool... 🤫🤪

pick up a phone, approx how long would it take to realise it wasn't yours? 5 seconds? 10 seconds? just saying.

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

So... he was pished up, picked up the wrong phone, then acted like a t!t...

Other girl, rightly so, might have let it go, but wasn't having any of it when confronted with tvvattery.

Word has it - he's a genuine sweaty - but was brought up in liverpool... 🤫🤪

Is that you, Richard? Not quite up to your usual well-reasoned articulate style! Has Rory McColl actually hacked your ThaiVisa account thinking your respected handle will lend him some gravitas? Or alternatively have you decided to join Rory on the Chang tonight somewhere on Soi Buakhao?

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Is that you, Richard? Not quite up to your usual well-reasoned articulate style! Has Rory McColl actually hacked your ThaiVisa account thinking your respected handle will lend him some gravitas? Or alternatively have you decided to join Rory on the Chang tonight somewhere on Soi Buakhao?

Please don't publicly discuss my respected handle - thats private between husband and wife !!!

Pick up someone elses phone by mistake ?

ROFLMAO

Yeah rite ...

On 4/28/2026 at 6:15 AM, Georgealbert said:

UPDATE

Brit Packpacker Faces Court in Thailand Over Phone Incident

Pictures courtesy of The Sun

A British backpacker is facing up to five years in prison in Thailand after new CCTV footage emerged showing the moment he allegedly took another tourist’s phone on his first night out. Rory McColl, 37, was arrested in Bangkok on 9 March and is due to appear in court following the incident on Khao San Road.

The footage, recorded inside Golf Bar, shows Mr McColl reaching across a table, picking up a mobile phone and placing it in his back pocket while dancing nearby. The device belonged to 22-year-old German tourist Melina Muchow, who later realised it was missing and reviewed CCTV with staff before identifying him.

Bar security detained Mr McColl and called police, who took him into custody. Officers said he was “heavily intoxicated” at the time and initially placed in a cell to sober up. According to investigators, he was given an opportunity to apologise and resolve the matter, as the victim initially only wanted an apology.

However, police allege Mr McColl instead verbally abused the woman and her friends, making offensive gestures and shouting insults. Lieutenant Noppasin Piyarat said the language used was “severe”, prompting the victim to pursue legal action. The case was then forwarded to prosecutors before Mr McColl was fully aware of the situation.

Station Superintendent Colonel Niphon Nithikarnkulert said Mr McColl admitted during questioning that he took the phone while intoxicated and “acted without full awareness of his actions”. He added that while alcohol may have been a factor, there was no evidence to prove a lack of intent.

Mr McColl, a father-of-one from Edinburgh, had travelled to Thailand for a planned 12-day holiday but has now remained in the country for seven weeks. His passport has been confiscated under bail conditions, and he is currently staying in a hotel in Pattaya while awaiting the court decision.

Under Thai law, the charge of theft at night carries a potential sentence of one to five years in prison. The outcome of the case will be determined at his court hearing.

Adapted by ASEAN Now The-Sun 28 Apr 2026

Genuine question but has Benidorm and Magaluf banned these lot, or put some restrictions around the island on drinking and behaviour? This is where they used to go ... why are they appearing in Thailand (these type of British guys i mean).

2 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Pick up someone elses phone by mistake ?

ROFLMAO

Yeah rite ...

Easily done - I nearly travelled out of country with a phone that wasn't mine - luckily I noticed within a few mins of picking up the phone and putting it in my bag.

My Son's phone is the same as mine (similar dark case) - I often pick up his phone by mistake.

Its very easy to imagine someone drunk picking up the wrong phone off the table - that said, its also easy to imagine you rolling around of the floor laughing your arse off at something so basic - simplistic minds and all that.

6 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Genuine question but has Benidorm and Magaluf banned these lot, or put some restrictions around the island on drinking and behaviour? This is where they used to go ... why are they appearing in Thailand (these type of British guys i mean).

He's not British - he's Scottish....

Though - Andy Murray, Fin Russel, Ally McCoist - Great Brits those guys !!!

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

He's not British - he's Scottish....

Though - Andy Murray, Fin Russel, Ally McCoist - Great Brits those guys !!!

British" refers to citizens, residents, or culture of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.

23 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

34 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

He's not British - he's Scottish....

Though - Andy Murray, Fin Russel, Ally McCoist - Great Brits those guys !!!

British" refers to citizens, residents, or culture of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.

Sit back and have a deep-fried Mars bar - the pish-take went over ye hid...

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

He's not British - he's Scottish....

Though - Andy Murray, Fin Russel, Ally McCoist - Great Brits those guys !!!

The UK (English) Press descriptions.

They are "British" when they are good and "Scottish/Welsh/Irish" when they do badly!

The "English are the other way round! They are "English" when they do well and "British" when they do badly"!

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

The UK (English) Press descriptions.

They are "British" when they are good and "Scottish/Welsh/Irish" when they do badly!

The "English are the other way round! They are "English" when they do well and "British" when they do badly"!

Its not the UK press that does that , its a Billy Connelly joke

6 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Its not the UK press that does that , its a Billy Connelly joke

Spot on - Billy Connolly… one of our finest British comedians....

On 4/28/2026 at 3:52 PM, Yagoda said:

Typical behavior of English and other European tourists who treat Thailand like a Colonial Country to be pillaged.

Come on man. That's little bit of a sweeping statement, North Korea style, equating an entire continent to your judgement on the actions of one man in a bar... blimey.

In court on the 28th, it was adjourned till 28th July

https://news.stv.tv/east-central/scots-dad-stuck-in-thailand-for-months-awaiting-trial-over-phone-misunderstanding

3 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Its not the UK press that does that , its a Billy Connelly joke

It is used as a joke and is also true!

“Albert Einstein once said, ‘If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world.

“Should my theory prove untrue, France will say I am a German and Germany will declare I am a Jew.’

“About a century after, the case of Andy Murray, a Scottish-born tennis player, illustrates this phenomenon in a similar manner.

Andy Murray is Scottish if he loses, British if he wins and the French have proved it - Daily Record

The phenomenon has been identified by psychologists as MOATing – which stands for Moving Others Away/Towards

46 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

It is used as a joke and is also true!

“Albert Einstein once said, ‘If my theory of relativity is proven successful, Germany will claim me as a German and France will declare that I am a citizen of the world.

“Should my theory prove untrue, France will say I am a German and Germany will declare I am a Jew.’

“About a century after, the case of Andy Murray, a Scottish-born tennis player, illustrates this phenomenon in a similar manner.

Andy Murray is Scottish if he loses, British if he wins and the French have proved it - Daily Record

The phenomenon has been identified by psychologists as MOATing – which stands for Moving Others Away/Towards

The Andy Murray thing is a Billy Connelly joke ,

12 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

The Andy Murray thing is a Billy Connelly joke ,

I have agreed that Billy used it as a joke, as have many comedians!

I also said about it also being true and have proved it. The Einstein quote etc predates the Scottish comedians!

Time to drop the subject and stop trying to score silly minor points!

This all he had to do apparently, instead threw more abuse at the girl

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/I0nXnbgKTeE

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Spot on - Billy Connolly… one of our finest British comedians....

Yes a fine British comedian!