British charity worker falsely accused of being a paedophile by police in Thailand is released after spending 14 months in a 'hell' prison

Ian Tracy was wrongly jailed for four years for being a paedophile Served 14 months in Nong Plalai Prison, Pattaya Was released just before New Year following order from Supreme Court 'It has ruined my life. I have been treated like scum', Mr Tracy said today
By Andrew Drummond PUBLISHED: 12:45, 2 January 2014 | UPDATED: 13:57, 2 January 2014

Jailed: Ian Tracy, w ho spent 14 m onths in a Thai prison after w rongly being convicted of being a pedophile

A British charity worker who was falsely accused of being a paedophile and jailed in Thailand for four years has been released on order from the Thai Supreme Court. Ian Charles Tracy, 47, was released from Nong Plalai Prison, Pattaya, just before the New Year after spending a squalid 14 months in the prison being treated as a child sexual abuser.

It is thought he was was mistaken for another British man - who has been arrested for child sex abuse and attempted murder of a juvenile. Speaking during an interview in Pattaya, innocent Mr Tracy from Godalming, Surrey, said: 'My whole life has been ruined. 'I have been accused of the vilest of crimes when all I have done is to try to help people. 'I now have to take steps to recover my name in a case which is appalling in the nature of its corruption. 'I have been treated worse than scum. I would never consider abusing a child. In fact the charities I worked for had programme for children but I did not want to get involved because I did not have the training. 'The police knew they had the wrong man. But insisted they go ahead with the prosecution. I told them they would have to make it all up - and they did.' According to Thai Police, Ian Tracy was originally arrested as part of an Operation Naga - an act of international co-operation between Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Unit (CEOP) which came under the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Royal Thai Police. Mr Tracy was jailed despite the fact that the 14-year-old boy he was accused of abusing told the court he had never seen the man before in his life.

Ordeal: Mr Tracy, pictured in Pattaya, said the experience had 'ruined his life' and he had been 'treated like scum '

Mr Tracy was acquitted of the crimes at earlier trial and was not informed that the decision had been reversed following an appeal by the prosecution. Mr Tracy was working in Pattaya as a volunteer for charity The Mercy Centre and another charity called Hand In Hand.

Through work, he had visited foreign prisoners in Thailand. As a result he had himself had been critical of the Thai police accusing them of setting up innocent people with child sex abuse charges.

Comments (9)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all Dave, Nottingham, 1 hour ago I was all sympathetic with this guy and then saw the bit about him slagging off the Thai Police. My god, how could he have been so stupid? He was very lucky that he had a few friends left to make them relent.

Reply
28 20

New Comment

New

Click to rate potel, london, 1 hour ago That is clearly a country to avoid at all costs.

Reply
13 59

New Comment

New

Click to rate Peter, UK, 2 hours ago I hope e gets amply compensated.

Reply
2 28

New Comment

New

Click to rate JK, Kuwait, Kuwait, 2 hours ago What course of action is available for him?? Since this took place in Thailand he can most likely do nothing

Reply
2 27

New Comment

New

Click to rate

Andy_Wirral, Wirral, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago Thai justice is, has and always will be a joke. Keep a low profile and fingers crossed you won't be fitted up. Also learn the

language if you live their.

Reply
8 37

New Comment

New

Click to rate london_bird, London, 2 hours ago Terrible. Our foreign office (or which ever government agency is relevant here) needs to be more involved in cases like this. It seems some people get lost in the system. Yes, things can't move quickly sometimes but 14 months!!!!

Reply
3 31

New Comment

New

Click to rate sylvie1s, London, Qatar, 2 hours ago And in the meantime, all the sick pedophiles who prey on asian children get away with it - especially in Cambodia and Mynamar where many pose as 'English' teachers.

Reply
7 24

New Comment

New

Click to rate

Comeonyoublues, Rojales - Spain, 2 hours ago Keep clear of this country, corruption is endemic.

Reply
7 42

New Comment

New

Click to rate zen, Perth, Australia, 2 hours ago Thats Thailand for you its all money zzz!

Reply
6 32

New Comment

New

Click to rate The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Associated Newspapers Ltd