FATHER-of-three Kevin Taylor and his wife Charlene are vehemently protesting their innocence after being sentenced to 12 years in prison in the Philippines for illegal recruitment and offers of employment in the UK.

Kevin, originally from Stratton, was arrested on May 15, 2009 and kept in custody for more than five years without a trial or any prospect of release.

Although the hope of acquittal was dangled in front of the couple by the court last year, when discrepancies in their business were found a judge imposed 12 years custody on the pair.

They will now be separated and placed in correctional facilities.

With a full five years already served, with good behaviour, 49-year-old Kevin could find himself free within a year – providing he does not appeal the sentence.

Speaking from San Mateo municipal jail, Kevin said he is speaking to lawyers in the hope of an appeal but is uneasy about risking his parole hearings.

“The lawyer told us there was an 80 per cent chance of us going free, so we went to court full of hope on 29 October,” he said.

“This soon turned to despair and shock as the judge and staff were very stonefaced with us.

“As the verdict was read out it was with disbelief that we heard the guilty verdict.

“For illegal recruitment we received a 12-year sentence.

“As we have already been here for five years we worked out that with good conduct and early parole we may only have one year at correctional to serve.”

Kevin added that vital evidence in his defence had been lost and that clear notification had been given at his consultancy that no employment in the UK was on offer.

Despite already drawing up his appeal, he said the additional costs and potential for further jail time was discouraging.

“As mum and dad are bankrupt we cannot afford to appeal and we are told that to appeal would keep us in jail longer,” he said.

“Another five years is something we just can’t stomach so again it’s a case of justice delayed, justice denied.

“At least at correctional we will have a date to aim for in going home.

“After suffering five years of imprisonment I was vulnerable, in ill health both mentally and physically, partially blind, unsure of court procedures, unsure of the language spoken, confused and an easy target.

“On top of this all of the necessary documentation had been lost while in the care of the authorities.

“Charlene and I still maintain our innocence, but people’s attitudes towards us have certainly changed.

“The guards here prefer to keep me locked in my cell now and I have lost all privileges.”

Kevin is due to be moved to a new maximum security facility from the medium security municipal prison which he has called home for five years.

Problems within the system means he has already witnessed assaults, rights breaches and the easy availability of drugs.

“During a flood in 2013 on evacuation to a school, more than 280 inmates were stuffed into two classrooms designed to hold 40 each,” he said.

“Inmates had to sleep and eat standing up for over 24 hours.In 2014 an inmate tried to escape and was caught at the entrance gate.

“The next morning he was handcuffed to the control gate outside my cell and it was evident he had had no sleep and there was bruising to his eye.

“Several guards came in and hit or slapped him around the face, so hard his head bounced off the metal bars on the gate.

“He was put into a cell for his own safety and lost visiting rights so visitors could not see his bruises.

“Now I am to go to New Bilibig at Muntilupa which is a far worse place than this, and my transfer has been on hold since October due to the serious problems at the prison.

“The move scares me so much because I am going alone.

“Charlene is going to a correctional institute for women some three hours travel from me.

“When I go there my intention is to build a small kubol [shelter] and hide away from the drugs, gambling and gangs, just keep myself to myself, if they will allow me.

“In a way I need to go there to get my parole date.

“But on the other hand I don’t want to go because of all the trouble.”