British Backpacker, 37, Faces Up To Five Years In Thai Jail After Picking Up Wrong Phone

A British backpacker is currently facing up to five years in Thai prison after picking up a woman’s mobile phone he claims he mistook for his own.

Rory McColl, 37, was drinking at a bar on Khaosan Road on the first night of a 12-day trip to Bangkok, when he picked up a smartphone from the bar and put it in his pocket.

The phone’s owner, Melina Muchow, 22, realised it was missing and alerted bar staff.

They checked CCTV on the spot and identified Rory, who was still at the bar, as the alleged thief.

Now here’s where Rory well and truly fvcked up. A police officer arrived and spoke to him and gave him the chance to apologise and leave without consequence. Instead, Rory, who was ‘blind drunk’, started having a go at the woman whose phone he had taken.

At that point, police took Rory to a cell to ‘sober up’, and the woman, a German national, insisted on him being prosecuted.

By the time Rory sobered up, the case had already been sent to prosecutors for a court hearing, which could see him jailed for up to five years for ‘theft at night’.

Speaking today, the investigating officer, Lieutenant Noppasin Piyarat said there is ‘clear CCTV evidence of the entire incident’ which shows Rory ‘picking up the victim’s mobile phone and placing it into his pocket’.

The policeman said: ‘The victim noticed her phone was missing and informed security. It was confirmed on CCTV footage that the man had placed the phone into his own pocket.

‘Security officers then conducted a search and found the victim’s phone in his possession. The guards asked the victim to confirm ownership by unlocking the phone, which she successfully did, proving it belonged to her.

‘The Golf Bar staff then detained him and called the police, who took him into custody. We have an official arrest record, and he was brought to the police station because he was heavily intoxicated.

‘At the station, I attempted mediation and advised the suspect to apologise, as the victim only wanted an apology. This would have solved the situation. However, he instead verbally abused the victim and her two friends, who are all foreign nationals (Germans).

‘He stared at them and shouted insults. He made offensive gestures by holding his middle finger at them. Then, the victim insisted on pursuing legal action.

‘I wanted to resolve the incident that night and informed the victim that proceeding with a complaint would require additional time at the police station, but they maintained their decision to proceed.

‘The suspect’s behaviour may have been due to intoxication, but I cannot specify exactly what was said. The language used was likely severe, which caused the victim to become angry and decide to pursue legal action.

Oh Rory, you bloody idiot! He made a genuine mistake and was given the opportunity to go free by means of a simple apology. Instead he decided to give it large and now he’s looking at up to five years at the Bangkok Hilton.

Remember – Thailand isn’t like the U.K. where they give you a cell for the night and then treat you to a kebab before letting you go home. If you get blind drunk and act a fool because you can’t handle your alcohol, you’re going to pay for it. Word to the wise.

For the British tourist who attacked a Thai police officer in a 7/11 and immediately ended up regretting it, click HERE.