Jailed Kent man 'tearful' at support

A man from Kent has been "blown away" by the level of international support he has received since being jailed in Morocco for being gay, his son said.

Ray Cole, 69, was imprisoned for four months with his Moroccan friend Jamal Jam Wald Nass after homosexual images were found on his password-protected phone.

As the pair languish in a crowded, barbed-wire topped Marrakesh jail, Mr Cole's son, Adrian Cole, 41, spoke of his concern for his father and his hope that they will be freed on appeal.

Mr Cole, from Windsor, Berkshire, said: "My father spoke to my mother and he was blown away when told of the level of interest and care and concern about him. He became quite tearful."

The case has generated huge interest on social media from supporters hoping to persuade the Moroccan authorities to free retired Mr Cole, from Deal.

As well as a petition, a #freeraycole hashtag has been circulating on Twitter and a Facebook page has also been set up calling for the release of Mr Cole, who has a minor heart condition.

He struck up a friendship with Mr Nass, aged in his 20s, on Facebook. It was on Mr Cole's second visit to Morocco to see him that they were detained at a bus stop by officers.

Mr Cole, who turns 70 on October 25, was four weeks into a five-week break in the north African country when the pair were held on September 18.

Former deputy speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans, a gay MP, said he would be writing to the Moroccan ambassador to plea for his release as soon as possible.

Read: Family of jailed Deal man press for his release