The sister of a former Bradford publican convicted of drugs charges in Thailand today accused the British Government of "hanging him out to dry".

Kevin Quill is awaiting his appeal to be heard against a six-year sentence for attempting to smuggle amphetamine pills back to England.

Mr Quill, who formerly ran the city's Fighting Cock, Diplomat and Idle Cock pubs, has maintained his innocence for the last three years, insisting the drugs were planted on him by crooked businessmen working with corrupt local police officers.

Although the 42-year-old has been released from jail pending his appeal, no date has been set for the hearing and he is not allowed to return to Britain.

Mr Quill's sister Lorraine said: "He wakes up every morning knowing that the authorities might say 'That's it - we're locking you up today'."

She highlighted how miscarriages of justice were commonplace in Thailand - single judges preside over cases rather than juries - and called on the Foreign Office to step in.

"They have hung him out to dry," said Miss Quill.

"They want to sweep the whole thing under the carpet and forget about it, but for Kevin that is not an option."

She stressed that her brother had no criminal convictions and had always contributed to the community.

In October 2001 Mr Quill was arrested after police found 100 'yaa-baa' tablets (a cheap Thai amphetamine drug) hidden in cartons of cigarettes as he drove to Bangkok airport. He has admitted he was bringing home tobacco illegally but said the drugs were planted inside by business rivals.

The millionaire businessman spent seven months in the notorious Chonburi jail which he described as "absolute hell". Later, one of Thailand's most senior police officers and a British diplomat both conceded Mr Quill had been framed.

Miss Quill said the Foreign Office had previously intervened in high-profile foreign cases to ensure the British citizens were allowed home.

"They say they don't get involved in foreign judicial matters but it has happened before," she said. "It is a simple case of double standards."

She said all the Government had done was appoint a solicitor to examine Mr Quill's case and then "washed its hands of him".

"The lawyer, who is based in the UK, told us the case would be thrown out in this country," she said.

"However, he has no knowledge of Thai law and has no plans to go out there, so what good is that to Kevin?"

Today a Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is a matter for the Thai legal system and it is up to Mr Quill's solicitor to represent him.

"There is nothing further we can do until the appeal has been heard."

He said it was possible the Govern-ment would re-examine the situation if this failed.

Mr Quill's family is now pressing for a meeting with Foreign Office officials to draw up an action plan.

"Kevin is a nervous wreck. This has gone on for almost three years now and he still doesn't know what is going to happen. He spends every single day on a knife edge," said Miss Quill.