A HAMPSHIRE man could face the death penalty in Thailand after he was arrested for smuggling 9,000 Ecstasy tablets worth £70,000 into the country.

Alan Kiernan was suspected of being high on his own supply when police arrested him in the street for not wearing a shirt the day after arriving on a flight from Switzerland.

Officers say they found the drugs hidden in special panels sewn into his tracksuit trousers.

Kiernan, 35, who has yet to be charged, was visited in jail yesterday by British consulate officials.

After hearing of his son's arrest, Kiernan's father Leo, of Holbury, said he was "devastated".

The retired oil worker, who has not seen his son for 12 years, said his son is a well-liked, keen athlete and once had Olympic ambitions for long distance running.

Mr Kiernan, 56, said: "I have just heard the news - it is terrible. It has come like a bolt from the blue. We did not have a falling out but he went abroad and did not really keep in contact.

"The last time I spoke to him was on the phone about eight years ago and he was in Spain or Portugal. He said he was selling timeshares.

"I can only think that he got involved with something like this and was too ashamed to keep in touch with his family.

"There is no one more against drugs than me, so I don't know how he got into them.

"My message to Alan now is 'I love you with all my heart' but I'm sure he knows that already. I hope that the Thai authorities are not too hard on him.

"I know drug smuggling is a very serious offence but I do not agree with the death penalty."

Mr Kiernan said his son had left Applemore College in Dibden Purlieu with no qualifications and worked at a local recreation centre as a lifeguard before moving abroad.

Kiernan was paraded in handcuffs before Thai television cameras at a police news conference yesterday where he confessed to smuggling the tablets.

He said: "I got through eight customs without being stopped once.

"That copper over there arrested me for not having a shirt on. The next thing you know, he's pulled out these Ecstasy tablets," he said, pointing to his trousers.

His only regret was not being able to see a bit more of the sprawling Thai capital, he said."I can't even get out to have a look around," he complained.

Thai Police said Kiernan, told them he wanted to sell the pills to foreigners in Bangkok.

"The pills were found wrapped neatly in a plastic bag and hidden in his sweat pants. They were specially made with several layers," one police officer said.

Thailand is considered to be one of the biggest sources of Ecstasy tablets available in western Europe.

British teenager, Michael Connell, was caught trying to bring 3,400 Ecstasy tablets into Thailand in November. Connell, 19, who also faces the death penalty, pleaded not guilty on Monday.