Father visits son in Thai jail

Michael Connell could face the death penalty

A man held on drugs charges in Thailand has been visited by his father ahead of a court appearance.

Derek Connell, from Bury, Greater Manchester, made the trip to see his 19-year-old son Michael.

The teenager denies smuggling 3,400 ecstasy tablets in to the country and could face the death penalty.

On Monday, BBC One's Inside Out show was due to reveal Michael has learning difficulties and is deaf in one ear.

His father has also voiced concern about his son - who could also face 99 years in prison - saying he is both gullible and naive.

You realise your son's coming when you hear the clanking of the chains. Father, Derek Connell

His visit to the notorious Klong Prem prison is the first contact - apart from two letters - he has had with his son since his arrest last November.

Mr Connell said his overriding impression of the jail - dubbed the Bangkok Hilton - was of the noise.

He said: "It's very noisy. You realise your son's coming when you hear the clanking of the chains, clanking, clanking, clanking.

"Every step, you hear the clanking of the chains.

Body cream

"Michael climbed up to show us his leg irons and they're not little they are big, heavy duty irons."

Michael was arrested after the ecstasy - which had a street value of $85,000 according to the Thai Customs Department - was allegedly found following an X-ray scan of his luggage.

Mr Connell has claimed that unknown to him, the tablets were placed in to two tubs of body cream he had bought at a supermarket in Greater Manchester.

Mr Connell's visit to his son can be seen on BBC One at 1930 GMT on 26 January.