Hello all,

I’m in a strange and stressful situation, and I need help and advice.

I left London in August 2006 for a two week holiday in Toronto. During my trip I was arrested for an alleged crime I had committed, and detained at the Toronto (Don) jail for seven months. In March 2007, a Judge released me on bail after hearing that if I had pleaded guilty; I would have served no more than a month. Unable to leave the country until my trial, I remained in Toronto.

In June 2008, I was arrested by Canadian Border Services Agency (C.B.S.A) for immigration reasons. I was detained in the Toronto Metro West Detention Centre (another jail) for two weeks until my girlfriend could bail me out.

I’m now not permitted to leave the country until my trial, which does not start until the end of April 2009. I’m not allowed to work, claim benefits, get medical cover…NOTHING! I survive off food banks, and the goodwill of my friends. I suffer from acute depression due to my situation, but can not afford the medication. I feel as if I’m being tortured until I confess to something. The British Consulate is fully aware of my situation, but says there’s nothing they can do to help, and no funding from the UK to help.

I have no criminal record in the UK or abroad, but I’m being treated like I’m guilty, and nothing more than a common criminal. I never would have expected to be treated like this in Canada.

If anyone can seriously give me advice & help in any way, could you please e-mail me?

What was the alleged offence?

Did you mean to type a crime you HAD NOT committed?

I suspect your best bet is to shine the media spotlight on your case a la Brenda Martin. Gonna get more done faster than anything we can do.

Write to the Sun/NOTW. they like all that jingoistic "our boy got treated bad" stuff.

R.

My drink was spiked at a party with ecstasy. I ended up in a hospital unconscious. I was pumped with a heavy dose of what I believe were sedatives. I woke up after a couple of hours disorientated. I my state it is alleged that I assaulted an employee, causing them bodily harm (not serious). I can not remember any of this. I'm told by a doctor, this is possibly the cause of the drugs administered to me.

Brenda Martin was found guilty of fraud, and yet the media still managed to get the poor nut job released from a stinky Mexican jail...

If you didnt do it then you should be an even better cause celebre. Im just suprised no one has heard of this injustice in the preceeding two years, the media would lap this up. Of course Friday afternoon is never a good time to expect to be taken seriously on an anonymous web based chat page...we are a cynical lot that might take some convincing. (well, I am anyway)

Most people get a sun tan on holiday
Last time i heard a "hard luck" story like this was in Bali, every one chipped in and felt sorry for the guy,,,,it turned out he was smuggeling drugs...

If anyone knows of any person, charity or organisation which could help please let me know. Surely if I'm not allowed to leave, I'm entitled to some kind of support.

I'm moving this to the immigration forum as that's where the experts and professionals hang out. Hope someone can help you there.

Most churches would be open to and supportive of your plight I suspect. They are in the book, under "C"

Put it in the sewer forum with the rest of the crap

A local church is one place where I go to collect food. They can't help me with the cost of my medication which is $130. I tried every charity/organisation in the book to try and help me with this.

I anyone knows where I can get free or discount medical help in Toronto, it would be a big help!

I beg your pardon?

Sell ya computer,that should raise sum funds
And whats with ya family