Litigation, assault and escape from Thailand: British pensioners after conflict with locals received suspended sentences and fines after returning their passports

British pensioners Desmond and Mary Byrne from Middlesbrough faced litigation in Thailand after a conflict over real estate. The couple invested £200,000 to buy a villa in the resort town of Hua Hin in 2021, dreaming of a peaceful retirement life. However, their expectations were shattered by the harsh reality.

Shortly after moving in, the Byrnes returned from a trip and discovered builders on their property. Local residents claimed their rights to the villa’s access road. The couple hired a lawyer and temporarily halted the construction work, but the conflict continued to escalate.

In December 2023, the situation reached a critical point. A couple – allegedly a British man and his Muay Thai companion – broke into the villa grounds. They ripped up plants and shouted insults in Thai before attacking the pensioners. The man struck 77-year-old Desmond 22 times while he was lying on the ground. Mary, 69, was kicked and punched before falling to the flowerbed. “I’m 100 percent sure it was self-defense,” Mary said, claiming that her husband, a former chemical engineer, only instinctively raised his leg but did not hit anyone.

Desmond suffered severe facial injuries that required long-term treatment. Mary broke her nose, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and subsequently suffered heart problems. The incident was captured by CCTV cameras but, according to the Byrnes, the police initially showed no interest in their claim.

Eventually a criminal case was opened and the assailants were found guilty, receiving an undertaking to pay compensation. However, to the Byrnes’ surprise, the offenders filed a counterclaim. Last June, the British pensioners were charged with causing “superficial injuries and moral damage” to their neighbors. The couple believe that the reason for the prosecution and the risk of imprisonment was their refusal to pay a bribe.

“The investigation was delayed because we were accused of contempt of court because of the media coverage of our case. We denied it,” former nurse Mary told The Sun. The Byrnes have had their passports confiscated and have been banned from leaving Thailand.

“We just want to go home. It’s like a bad movie,” Mary shared with British reporters before the court hearing. – We already feel like prisoners, even though we are not behind bars. Our health has deteriorated, and we have spent all our savings on this horrible situation.”

On Wednesday, a local court found Desmond and Mary Byrne guilty of assault and causing damage. They were given a 20-day suspended sentence and fined 17,500 baht. Their passports were returned to them on Thursday, and they were able to return to the UK. The case illustrates the difficulties foreigners can face when caught up in legal proceedings in another country. The Byrnes’ story has become a cautionary tale for other British retirees planning to move to Thailand.

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