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

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Yet another WHITE criminal. Thailand needs to do something about the white criminal element in the country!

Was there not one other case, quite similar, where some Farang picked up a phone at the Bangkok airport, took it home, wiped it clean, and then began to use it as his own?

Then, for some unknown reason, his folks back home started a Go Fund Me website to get him out of jail, or something.

What ever happened to him?

Never take what does not belong to you.

Better to just do without, if you can't afford what you might want.

If this guy picked up someone else's phone in a bar....

Then, where is his phone now?

Why not trace the location of his phone using available Google resources?

Very confusing.

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.

12 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

If this guy picked up someone else's phone in a bar....

Then, where is his phone now?

Why not trace the location of his phone using available Google resources?

Very confusing.

His phone was in his man bag.

Read the other thread about this thief.

37 years old is not really a backpacker. An initially planned 12-day stay in Thailand is not really a backpacker. Note the use of language by the family to paint an innocent picture.

A crime like this would probably not even be investigated in the UK, let alone an arrest made, charges laid and court appearances set. Rory must be shocked that in Thailand crimes have real consequences, particularly theft which is taken much more seriously than in the UK. So, in typical British fashion he goes running to the press claiming he is a victim, the favourite British pastime.

33 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

If this guy picked up someone else's phone in a bar....

Then, where is his phone now?

Why not trace the location of his phone using available Google resources?

Very confusing.

Yeah, we can clearly read that you are confused. Nothing confusing with the news story, though.

48 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

37 years old is not really a backpacker. An initially planned 12-day stay in Thailand is not really a backpacker. Note the use of language by the family to paint an innocent picture.

I didn't know that backpacking was age and duration capped. Since the family will only have their son's side of the story, what else are they expected to say?

2 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Yet another WHITE criminal. Thailand needs to do something about the white criminal element in the country!

Yet lots of bad whities!

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

37 years old is not really a backpacker. An initially planned 12-day stay in Thailand is not really a backpacker. Note the use of language by the family to paint an innocent picture.

A crime like this would probably not even be investigated in the UK, let alone an arrest made, charges laid and court appearances set. Rory must be shocked that in Thailand crimes have real consequences, particularly theft which is taken much more seriously than in the UK. So, in typical British fashion he goes running to the press claiming he is a victim, the favourite British pastime.

You can be a backpacker at 70yo.

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

His phone was in his man bag.

Read the other thread about this thief.

Shady looking eyes. Looks guilty to me.

Meet a Swedish guy on Koh Samui that "borrow" an phone. 15 years ago

I year ,8 months in shackles, Samui monkey house.

If you go visit in jail...bring rubber bands.

When you are in Thai prison toilet you need rubber bands to hold your shackles....

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

confirmed the charge of theft by night remains in place.

Yes, night crime gives harder sentence than day time

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

His phone was in his man bag.

Read the other thread about this thief.

Man bag.

That's so gay.

Not referring to you.

Does this man have a criminal record? I am more inclined to believe if he does not have a pattern of crime.

Theft or accident... Either way, this is a good cautionary tale to make sure the phone you pick up is yours.

Backpacker?! More like a booze & bonk holiday gone wrong.

I'm missing the ordinary #gofundme action 😳

On 4/26/2026 at 7:53 AM, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, we can clearly read that you are confused. Nothing confusing with the news story, though.

No, for once GG is saying how it is.

He says the jail was horrendous, but now he is now on Bht 40000 bail and in an hotel. THAT is confusing.

Surely he cannot use someone else's phone if the real owner has a PIN code, and all the contacts are Thai.

On 4/26/2026 at 8:27 AM, NanLaew said:

I didn't know that backpacking was age and duration capped. Since the family will only have their son's side of the story, what else are they expected to say?

Yes maximum age for BP is 35. BP stay is capped at 7 days. Hahaha. Silly, right?

On 4/26/2026 at 7:38 AM, Briggsy said:

37 years old is not really a backpacker. An initially planned 12-day stay in Thailand is not really a backpacker. Note the use of language by the family to paint an innocent picture.

A crime like this would probably not even be investigated in the UK, let alone an arrest made, charges laid and court appearances set. Rory must be shocked that in Thailand crimes have real consequences, particularly theft which is taken much more seriously than in the UK. So, in typical British fashion he goes running to the press claiming he is a victim, the favourite British pastime.

It wouldn't be investigated here, (if that is what they are doing) if he wasn't a foreigner.

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

No, for once GG is saying how it is.

He says the jail was horrendous, but now he is now on Bht 40000 bail and in an hotel. THAT is confusing.

Surely he cannot use someone else's phone if the real owner has a PIN code, and all the contacts are Thai.

Now you confused me. 😉

Hoots man the Noo

Don't take what does not belong to you

Would have thought when out you would keep your phone on your personnel self

On 4/26/2026 at 4:06 AM, Georgealbert said:

During his detention, Mr McColl said he was approached by a man claiming to be a lawyer, to whom he made two payments

The guy cant be the snartest but how can he pay during detention?

Two points:

1. Might be a warning to the, what seems like more and more idiots, whatever you want call them, who come to SEA and believe they can do what they want.

2. Why, it seems nowadays, and it seems to be mostly Brits, that any motorbike accident, medical or legal bill results in an immediate begging Go Fund me appeal? Your mistakes, you pay, don't expect others to pay for you!

How on Earth do you pick up someone else's phone 'by mistake'?

If your own is not on the table alongside it (which is asking to have it stolen), it'll be in your pocket.

Stretches credibility like chewing gum.

Life lesson there, guy forgot to pay the cops...

Why don't these people look after their property, I have seen it loads of times, customers leaving a mobile on the bar and going for a pee pee, or talk to friends, I should think the blame partially belongs to the owner of the device.

On 4/26/2026 at 12:23 AM, 1tooth said:

Yet another WHITE criminal. Thailand needs to do something about the white criminal element in the country!

Of course there is no coloured crime in Thailand is there. 🤡