A BROMSGROVE mother whose son is locked up in a Thai prison cell in horrendous conditions, says she had been overwhelmed by the support of townsfolk.

Lance Whitmore, originally from the town, has been locked up in the Klong Prem Prison in Thailand for the past eight months in a cramped, filthy cell designed to hold 20 people, but which is instead holding 78.

Lance's parents, Russ and Debbie Caswell, are now campaigning to help their son as fears grow for his deteriorating health and state of mind.

When he was first arrested he was held for days without food and water and since then the 26-year-old has been suffering tooth decay and has lost weight.

Debbie said: "It really is horrendous.

"It is not just about Lance, those conditions you wouldn't keep dogs in yet prisoners have to suffer them.

"I don't know how he is coping."

After growing up in Bromsgrove, Lance has lived on and off in Thailand for more than five years.

But his life changed after 25-year-old fiancee Jitma Tahin, known as Tree, died of meningitis in 2013, and his grandfather died of cancer - all in a short space of time.

Debbie said she saw her son become depressed and suicidal, and begged him not to go back to Thailand in March 2014.

The oil worker decided to go to start a new life and move closer to his dad, who runs a Bangkok restaurant.

But last August Debbie received the news her son had been arrested in a supermarket with around 200 ecstasy tablets.

His lawyer, Nathan Feeney, says an original Fak-Krang police report stated the purity was 8.79 grams, but in a second police reported this had trebled, to 27.9 grammes.

Debbie said this is now her major worry as after initially facing two years in prison he now could have a life sentence, due to the evidence being exaggerated.

The former South Bromsgrove High School pupil admits the offence, but she said he did not deserve to be locked up in a jail cell not fit for humans.

"At the end of the day Lance made a mistake," she said.

"But that is not how he is - he was vulnerable after his fiancee and grandfather's deaths."

Debbie says she feels like she is in a state of helplessness.

"I'm just not sure how I'm keeping it together," the 52-year-old said.

"The whole thing has been nightmare, I cant sleep at night thinking about my son."

Debbie said she had been overwhelmed by kind messages from Bromsgrove residents, and a campaign has now been started to support the family.

Fundraising events are being planned to raise money as it is costing £2,000 a month to retain the lawyer.

Debbie said: "It is really hard - if I had a home to sell I would have sold it by now.

"I never thought I'd be in a position where I'm asking people for money.

"But I need to do it to help my son."

The campaign's website is helplance.org.uk, while the Facebook group can be found by searching for Help get Lance Whitmore home.