Dad speaks out after 27-year-old held in tiny cell

Mark Turner’s son Michael, 27, was accused of defrauding more than 100 people after his marketing business in Hungary went bust in 2005 owing creditors £20,000.

Yesterday, after months of campaigning and lobbying, Michael, from Dorset, and his business partner Jason McGoldrick, 37, from Devon, were released and flew back to Britain to be reunited with their family and friends.

Mr Turner, from Upper Stratton, said: “I am absolutely delighted he is coming back.

“But, seriously, there are some misgivings about the case that need to be addressed.

“I am still very angry and I am concerned other citizens could experience the same fate.”

Michael and Mr McGoldrick gave themselves up voluntarily to officers from the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency on November 3 last year, before being handed over to Hungarian special forces officers and sent back to the country.

Mr Turner constantly campaigned for his son and his colleague to be released from living in “a cramped, tiny cell for 23 hours a day with three other men, he is being fed nothing but pork fat and bits of bread.”

He also set up a website – Free Mike and Jason – and managed to win the support of thousands of people and some MPs before holding demonstrations outside the House of Commons and the Hungarian embassy in protest at the handling of the case.

His family, who still live in Swindon, were also actively involved in the campaign to free the pair.

Speaking to the Bournemouth Echo hours before jetting home, Michael said: “It’s fantastic, absolutely fantastic.

“You had to concentrate on the next hour, the next day, rather than think of being there for months or even years.

“I was locked in a small room with two bunk beds and four people in a cell.”

Mr Turner hopes to continue to raise awareness on international extradition and says he will still campaign through the website.

For more information visit www.freemikeandjason.co.uk.