Dad Stuck in Thailand After Bar Mix-Up

0:00On April 24, a 37-year-old dad from Edinburgh named Rory McColl is stuck in Thailand after a bar mix-up turned into theft charges. He flew into Bangkok on March 9 for a 12-day backpacking trip, but on his first night out, he grabbed what he thought was his own phone from. The bar counter turns out it belonged to a woman, bar staff, called cops, and he got arrested right there. He spent two nights in a rough concrete cell before posting 1,000 pounds bail. Police took his passport so he can't leave the country. Now he's waiting for a court date on April 28, where he could face up to five years if convicted under Thailand's theft laws. His parents back home are losing sleep over it, talking to him daily on FaceTime. They say the jail was brutal, a concrete floor, plastic bottle for a pillow, and Rory's been cooped up in his hotel, barely venturing out. The woman he took the phone from email that it was just a mistake, but she stopped replying and police are still pushing the case. Rory hired a so-called lawyer who took payments twice and gave bad advice, like skipping

1:04court days. His family smelled a scam, and his new lawyer agrees it's probably a rip-off. Meanwhile, the UK foreign office is helping out, chatting with local authorities. As Rory stays strong for his kid back home, everyone's hoping that hearing clears this up quick so he can jet back to Scotland before it drags on any longer.