THE family of Bury teenager Michael Connell have spoken of their "devastation" after he was jailed for 99 years for drug smuggling in Thailand.

His shocked parents are now to appeal to the Thai authorities in a bid to reduce the 19-year-old's sentence.

His mother, Maureen, believes her son was set up by drug dealers in Bury.

Although still claiming his innocence, Connell, of Kestrel Drive, pleaded guilty to smuggling 3,400 Ecstasy tablets into Bangkok after being advised that his co-operation would help him avoid the death penalty and receive a shorter prison term.

Because Connell is a foreign juvenile, it was believed he would be jailed for only 25 years and spend the first eight in Bangkok's notorious Klong Prem jail, nicknamed the "Bangkok Hilton". The remainder of the prison term would be served in Britain.

However, the Bangkok Criminal Court sentenced Connell to death then reduced the punishment to life imprisonment of 99 years.

His father, Derek, was told of his son's sentence by a British Embassy official at 4am on Wednesday at his home in Almond Avenue, Bury. He has not been able to speak to his son since.

He said: "Thailand's judges are no different to ours. There are good and there are bad. The judge who dealt with Michael wasn't even aware he could not sentence Michael to death. Someone had a word in his ear and then he reduced it to life imprisonment.

"We were told the 99 years would be reduced to 50 if he pleaded guilty and maybe to 25 because of his age. But that didn't happen.

"He pleaded guilty and they hit him with the full 99 years. We are absolutely devastated but what can we do? We will appeal the decision and just take it from there.

"I truly believe that Michael is guilty for what he has done but I do not think he was fully aware of the consequences of his actions. He is 19-years-old in body but he is not 19-years-old in his head. The Thai courts did not take into account his mental age."

Connell, who has learning difficulties and is deaf in one ear, is the youngest Briton in the last 13 years to be sentenced under Thailand's tough anti-drug laws.

Mrs Connell said: "We're devastated by the length of the sentence. It's much, much more than any of us were expecting. It's difficult for us all to imagine him living in a prison for the rest of his life.

"Deep down, I'm certain he was set up in this."

The Ecstasy tablets, with a street value of £50,000, were discovered hidden in two empty tubs of body cream which Connell claimed he bought from Tesco in Bury before he went abroad.

Following his arrest at Bangkok Airport last November, Bury North MP David Chaytor made an impassioned plea to the Thai government for clemency for Connell.

Mr Chaytor described the former Broad Oak High School pupil as a vulnerable young man who was open to exploitation and manipulation and called for the unemployed teenager to be sent home to face justice in Britain.

On Thursday, Mr Chaytor said he would support any appeal against the sentence. He added: "This is a terrible tragedy for Michael and his family. It demonstrates how ruthless the Thai authority is when dealing with drug offences.

"I hope to be able to speak to Michael's parents to discuss what else can be done in respect of the appeal and pleas for clemency. I will also meet with the Foreign Office minister to discuss Michael's case and make my representations to the Thai authorities for a more humane punishment that takes into account Michael's learning difficulties."

Connell's lawyers have one month to register their appeal against the sentence with a decision from the High Court in Thailand expected in 18 months.

Derek, a taxi driver, added: "If we lose our first appeal we will go to a superior court and keep trying to get Michael home. We will never give up."