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Briton jailed for child sex abuse Briton jailed for child sex abuse
(about 4 hours later)
A Briton jailed for 14 years for sexually abusing girls in Thailand has claimed he will not survive one year behind bars.A Briton jailed for 14 years for sexually abusing girls in Thailand has claimed he will not survive one year behind bars.
Maurice Praill, 78, from Harold Hill, on the London-Essex border, was jailed by the country's Supreme Court.Maurice Praill, 78, from Harold Hill, on the London-Essex border, was jailed by the country's Supreme Court.
He had been convicted in 2001 but was freed on bail as he appealed twice against his conviction.He had been convicted in 2001 but was freed on bail as he appealed twice against his conviction.
Thailand's Fight Against Child Exploitation group welcomed the sentence.Thailand's Fight Against Child Exploitation group welcomed the sentence.
Praill had been arrested in 2000 in the resort of Pattaya on charges of sexually abusing girls aged 12 and 13, according the AFP press agency. Praill had been arrested in 2000 in the resort of Pattaya on charges of sexually abusing girls aged 12 and 13, according to the AFP press agency.
This suspect should have been in jail for a long time. Sudarat Sereewat of Fight Against Child ExploitationThis suspect should have been in jail for a long time. Sudarat Sereewat of Fight Against Child Exploitation
He was convicted and sentenced by a criminal court in 2001, but released pending appeal.He was convicted and sentenced by a criminal court in 2001, but released pending appeal.
An appeals court in 2004 upheld the sentence, but he was again freed on bail and allowed to take his case to the Supreme Court, which on Wednesday ruled that Praill must start serving his jail term.An appeals court in 2004 upheld the sentence, but he was again freed on bail and allowed to take his case to the Supreme Court, which on Wednesday ruled that Praill must start serving his jail term.
He told the BBC: "... I do not think I will survive a year.He told the BBC: "... I do not think I will survive a year.
"But I am more concerned about the reflection on my family overall and it is a disgrace to the legal system.""But I am more concerned about the reflection on my family overall and it is a disgrace to the legal system."
Sudarat Sereewat, director of the child protection group Fight Against Child Exploitation, said: "We are very pleased that the Thai judicial system is finally aware of the child sexual abuse and have handed down justice.Sudarat Sereewat, director of the child protection group Fight Against Child Exploitation, said: "We are very pleased that the Thai judicial system is finally aware of the child sexual abuse and have handed down justice.
"This suspect should have been in jail for a long time.""This suspect should have been in jail for a long time."