A British couple who retired to Thailand have been fined after being charged with assault while defending themselves during a property dispute with their neighbors in Hua Hin.
The couple pleaded guilty in a local court on Wednesday to assault and property damage. They received a suspended 20-day sentence and were fined 17,500 baht.
Their passports were expected to be returned on Thursday, allowing them to travel back to the UK.
Mary Byrne, 69, and her husband Desmond, 77, who moved from Middlesbrough in 2021, found themselves caught up in a conflict with a younger couple over access rights and a small garden area.
In December 2023, the Byrnes were drawn outside by a disturbance in their garden, only to be kicked and punched in an attack recorded on CCTV.
Although their neighbors were initially prosecuted, Mr. and Mrs. Byrne now face charges themselves. They have been informed by the British Embassy that the case could be resolved in their favor or against them.
Mrs. Byrne recounted that their neighbors were trained Thai kickboxers, with one woman brutally stomping on her head while her husband endured multiple severe blows.
“At one stage, Des did kick his leg up in defense, and as far as we know, he did not make contact,” she said. “I strongly believe, 100%, it was in defense.”
Initially, the younger couple denied the charges but later pleaded guilty.
However, in May of the previous year, the Byrnes were summoned to a police station and charged with causing ‘superficial injuries and mental anguish.’
The process involved recording their fingerprints and seizing their passports.
“We were extremely shocked,” Mrs. Byrne said. “The superficial injuries to both of these people are laughable.”
The couple anticipates a court hearing on Wednesday to determine their fate, expressing a feeling of entrapment as they await the decision.
“We can’t get out; we can’t leave. So in one way or another, we feel trapped,” Mrs. Byrne said.
Luke Myer, the couple’s former MP, spoke to BBC Radio Tees, stating, “I’m doing everything I can to raise Mary and Desmond’s case with the Foreign Office.
“Of course, it is a matter for the Thai legal system, and we can’t interfere with that.”
“I think raising the profile of the issue is really important to ensure they are treated fairly and ultimately able to come home.”
A spokesperson from the Foreign Office confirmed that they are assisting two British nationals in Thailand and maintaining communication with the local authorities.
“We are not pessimistic; we both know we’ve done nothing wrong,” Mrs. Byrne stated. “But we have to prepare for whatever they’re going to do to us.”
