A former Bradford publican today vowed to clear his name over drugs allegations after enduring seven months in a squalid Thai jail.

Kevin Quill was imprisoned after police retrieved 100 amphetamine pills from cartons of cigarettes he was bringing back to England.

The father-of-two claims he was set up by two British businessmen he met in Thailand who were intent on stealing his assets. Among Bradford bars he used to run were the Fighting Cock in Preston Street and the Diplomat in Sunbridge Road.

Mr Quill is now free on bail and back at his home in Pattaya, Thailand. The millionaire businessman said the pair had persuaded him to invest in a joint venture before colluding with local police to convict him, so they could take over his business interests.

"I am very, very confident of clearing my name. When the judge sees the evidence of this set-up, he will have to clear me," he said.

He said: "The last seven months have been absolute hell. The conditions at the Chonburi jail were horrendous, with more than 90 inmates sharing a ten-metre room. I have never seen anything like it in my life and hope I never do again.

"The heat was appalling and the toilet facilities were pre-historic.

"During my time there I lost three stones and was covered in boils and scabies. There were certainly times when I didn't think I would be walking out."

Mr Quill was recently freed after approaches to Thai police from the British Embassy.

He said: "I have had a great deal of support from people back at home in West Yorkshire and I cannot thank them enough.

"They know I would never get involved in drugs. I never have and I never will."

Mr Quill admitted planning to bring back cigarettes illegally, saying he "was out of order" but denied knowledge of the drugs which were found when he was stopped on the way to Bangkok Airport.

"As well as clearing my own name, I will be bringing charges of theft, fraud and corporate theft against those who tried to set me up," said Mr Quill.

"While I was in jail the authorities said if I admitted the offence, they would deport me back to England. There was no way I was going to admit to something I had not done and I think they were surprised that I stayed."

Mr Quill's trial begins at the beginning of next month and the judge could clear him immediately, allowing him back to England.

If not, he faces the prospect of a year-long fight in the Thai courts to clear his name.