SuppliedA Scottish dad who has spent months awaiting trial in Thailand after he “mistakenly” picked up a mobile phone in a bar now faces a six-week wait for a verdict in his case.
Rory McColl, from Edinburgh, is accused of stealing a device from a venue in Bangkok just hours after he arrived in the city on March 9, 2026.
The father-of-one said it was a “misunderstanding” and that he had picked up the phone believing it to be his own.
Rory claims the owner of the mobile later contacted him to confirm she knew it was a mistake.
He was, however, arrested by authorities and spent two nights in jail before being charged.
His passport was confiscated when he was released on bail in April.
After spending months awaiting trial, Rory’s case was heard in a Thai court on Thursday.
SuppliedHis mum Helen told STV News that two policemen and a doorman from the bar gave similar accounts to a panel of four judges, with each saying the incident was a “misunderstanding”.
She spoke with her son on FaceTime after he left the court, having been told the judges would return with a verdict on December 9.
Helen said: “He’s feeling a bit flat. This case just never seems to go anywhere.
“Although they say there will be a verdict on December 9, will there? It seems to be never-ending.”
Rory, a father-of-one, celebrated his 38th birthday in August while still stuck in Thailand.
He has been taken in by a Thai family, but sleeps outside and has been exposed to spider and snake bites requiring hospital treatment.
Helen said he has tried to make the most of his extended stay, however, and has been teaching local schoolchildren how to fish.
After several months of waiting, the family are hopeful of bringing Rory home in time for Christmas.
Helen added: “It would mean the world to get him home. It’s the longest time we’ve been separated.
“We’ve never experienced this before. It’s exhausting.
“We’ve been let down so many times but it’s possible December 9 is when this nightmare will end.”
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