The court initially sentenced him to 13 years and eight months in prison and a 780,000-baht fine but, in accordance with standard practice, Judge Somsak Laksanasomboon halved the sentence because Crosby had pleaded guilty.

Crosby, 33, was arrested on April 22 last year at the Scott Bar in Patong by Pol Capt Pongsak Petchnongkhum, Deputy Inspector of Investigation of Police Region 8.

Capt Pongsak, who testified in the case, told the Gazette after the sentencing that he had arrested Crosby in a sting operation at the bar.

After Crosby sold 30 hits of ya E for 800 baht apiece to a man the police had pose as a buyer, Capt Pongsak, who was working undercover, moved in and made the arrest.

"He admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he had smuggled them into the country from Britain. When we searched his room on Nanai Rd we found 20 more tablets in a large bottle.

"Based on the large size of the bottle, I actually think he smuggled in about 1,000 pills. We also found a lot of other drug paraphernalia in his room," said the officer.

Crosby today began serving his sentence at Phuket Provincial Prison, where he has been in custody since his arrest, the court having denied his attempts to get bail.

The time already served since his arrest more than 17 months ago will not be deducted from his sentence.