AN EAST Lancashire man jailed for drug offences in Thailand has returned to the North West.

Christopher Egan, who endured a Thai prison nightmare after being jailed nearly two years ago, has now been transferred to Kirkham Open Prison.

He was repatriated to Wandsworth ilast September after spending the early part of his two year sentence in Klongprem Men's Prison in Thailand, better known as the infamous Bangkok Hilton.

His parents, Tony and Joan Egan, both 63, of King Street, Whalley, visited their 35-year-old son -- a former pupil at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn -- at the open prison on New Year's Day.

Tony said: "He's very happy to be back up north.

"It's a relief for him to have a cell to himself, although he got a shock when he saw himself in a mirror.

"He hasn't seen himself for a long time and realised he'd put on about three stone since arriving back in Britain.

"At least he's put the weight back on that he lost while in jail in Thailand."

He was given a 16-year prison sentence by a court in Thailand after he had been caught with eight amphetamine tablets and marked notes in his luggage.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of possession to avoid a longer prison sentence, but has always denied the allegations.

His sentence was later reduced to eight years, then to four years and was cut by a further six months as part of an amnesty to mark the Thai queen's birthday.