Former Pattaya Expat Peter Farquhar Jailed for Fraud

CHIANGRAI TIMES – Former Pattaya Expat,Peter Henry Farquhar, 54, from Briscoe Terrace, Whitehaven had a life of luxury in Thailand until his arrest at Heathrow just before Christmas 2009.

Peter Henry Farquhar, 54,

Setting up home at the exclusive Palm Springs Village in Pattaya, Farquhar drove around in a £30,000 Toyota Fortuner in a country where the average wage is just £1,000 a year.

It was all paid for by the proceeds from packages of cigarettes and steroids he sent back to the UK disguised as shipments of encyclopaedias. He was also claiming £13,000 in disability and incapacity benefits from the UK.

Detective Inspector Rob O’Connor from Cumbria Constabulary said the former train driver had set himself up well on the proceeds of his crimes.

“It’s fair to say he lived like a king. He had a lavish lifestyle, withdrawing £200 a day, which may not sound much, but goes a very long way in Thailand.”

Farquhar was jailed for three years and nine months in July last year. He lost his appeal against sentence in December last year and has now been ordered to pay back £220,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

A hearing at Carlisle Crown Court determined he had benefited from crime to the tune of £266,000 and has realisable assets including the Toyota and a house in Whitehaven as well as £100,000 in hidden assets. – By Will Tillotson