Sentence hope for Thailand Briton
A man jailed for more than 30 years for a drug offence in Thailand is hoping to have his sentence reduced in a landmark court case next week.
Stephen Wilcox, 45, was sentenced to 33-and-a-half years in prison after he was arrested for possession of drugs while working in Koh Samui, Thailand, in 2003.
Since his arrest he has maintained that the drugs were for his own use, but because of Thai law he was advised to plead guilty to dealing.
As part of a treaty agreement with Thailand, Wilcox, from Blaby, Leicestershire, was allowed to return to the UK to serve the remainder of his sentence but was told he would not be considered for parole for at least nine years.
He is hoping a judicial review next Thursday will help change his sentence to a period similar to what he would have been given if he had gone through the British justice system.
John Davies, who spent 17 years in a Thai prison for drugs offences despite maintaining his innocence, is helping campaign for Mr Wilcox.
He said: "I've been to see Stephen several times in Rye Hill Prison in Warwickshire since he's been back.
"He was told when he came back that he had to wait nine more years before parole would even be considered. That's not even definitely getting it, that's before he is considered.
"He wasn't even dealing, he was using some stuff himself. It's maybe a year or a slap on the wrist for what he did if it was in this country. Thirty-three years is just a ridiculous figure."
Mr Davies said Britain's treaty needed a new clause that would allow prisoners to be released if they have served the sentence they would have received in their own country.
Associated Press.
, , they should be made to finish their sentence in Thailand, after all thats where they commited the crime, also it costs the taxpayer thousands to keep a prisoner- when they could have been left to rot in a Thai jail.
