Bradford man jailed in Laos given UK freedom hope

A judge in London gave a ruling which means that the case of John Watson, 48, can be referred to the parole board "forthwith".

Watson, who was brought to the UK on April 7, was arrested in Laos in December 2003 in possession of 6,350 amphetamine tablets.

In March 2006 he was found guilty of trading and possession of narcotic drugs, sentenced to life imprisonment and fined. He is serving the term at HMP Wandsworth under the provisions of the Repatriation of Prisoners Act.

Setting a minimum term to be served by Watson, Mrs Justice Dobbs said the time spent in custody meant he had served the equivalent of a 13-year jail sentence.

That length of time "far exceeds any sentence that this court would or could have passed".

She said it made sentencing "an artificial and difficult exercise" for an offence "which would not have qualified for a life sentence and where Mr Watson has served a sentence far in excess of that which could have been imposed in this country".

The judge added: "Mr Watson's lawyers have advised the court that should the minimum term be set at two years or less, then Mr Watson will qualify for his case to be referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State forthwith."

Describing the case as having "very unusual circumstances", she set the minimum term at six months.

The judge's written ruling described how his incarceration in Laos was "not a pleasant one" as he had to go to hospital on many occasions due to his deteriorating health and that "beatings and torturing of foreign prisoners was commonplace."