Beach cash hunt that landed me in Greek jail cell – metal-detector man's ordeal
A Hull man has spoken of his ordeal after he used a metal detector – and was promptly arrested by Greek authorities.
Paul Douglas, 43, of Edgeware Lane, east Hull, says his sunshine break on the holiday isle of Crete was ruined.
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Metal-detector enthusiast Paul Douglas, of east Hull.
Mr Douglas was staying in the resort of Stalis with his wife Victoria, 38, and son Daniel, 14, son when he left them sleeping to hunt for Euro coins on a beach.
But police handcuffed him on Malia beach – a mecca for Brit holiday-makers – and took him to a nearby police station, where he was locked-up for 13 hours.
Mr Douglas was hauled before a court 27 miles away from his family who had no idea what had happened to him.
He was fined 87 Euros (£72) and given a 20-day prison sentence, suspended for three years.
His £120 metal detector was seized and not returned to him.
Mr Douglas, a machinist, said: "I didn’t even know I had been arrested until three hours later.
"The police just treat you like they do all the other hardened criminals."
In Greek law, the use of metal detectors without a licence is an offence.
But Mr Douglas, who claims he was not aware of the policy, insists he was only scouring for Euro coins on the manmade beach.
"I take my detector when I’m on holiday because I have trouble sleeping and it prevents me from moping about in the house waking everybody else," he said.
"I bet my brother five Euros that I would collect 10 Euros by end of the holiday.
"But the whole thing cost me about £200 plus the five euros I owed my brother - the first bet he has won in his life."
Mr Douglas has vowed never to return to the Greece islands.
He added: "I went to Malia expecting a holiday in paradise but it turned out to be hell.
"The next time I want to go metal detecting will be in Bridlington."
10 Comments
by detectorguy, USA
Monday, November 29 2010, 12:03PM
“Poor guy. Before you go out metal detecting you need to check with Local laws and regulations. Even here in the USA we know that there are places we can not go metal detecting.”
by Chris, USA
Monday, November 29 2010, 12:01PM
“Poor guy was out enjoying life. But he needed to check the local laws and regulations before going out. Even here in the USA we know that there are places we can not metal detect.”
by i.b.t, newark
Saturday, August 21 2010, 5:59PM
“I fell sorry for the poor beach attendant, slaving away but only to find some ****** stepping in and attempting to clean him out of his rightful returns. Dishhgushhtin!”
by George, Hull
Saturday, August 14 2010, 10:22AM
“This man is a idiot,he said his holiday was ruined but the only person who is responsable for this was him,if I had done this on holiday my wife would of kicked my ar*e for ruining the holiday,what a selfish muppet.”
by Mike, South Cave
Friday, August 13 2010, 8:37PM
“With easy access to the www ignorance should never be an excuse, especially as you need a licence here in the UK for searching on Crown beach's why a Country with such a history would be any different.
This hobby is being damaged by the inexperienced, or worst the criminal night hawkers that invade protected land and steal our history”
by Thomas Amangham, Hull
Friday, August 13 2010, 8:10PM
“So, let me get this straight in my mind.
He went to a foreign country.
He broke their laws
He (quite rightly) was arrested
He (quite rightly) received a fine.
He thinks the holiday was "hell"
mmmmmmmmm
Now try going to China and taking in a few drugs! (You could try claiming that you didn't know it was illegal)”
by Ranter, H
Friday, August 13 2010, 5:36PM
“Greedy skinflint. Taking your family on holiday, then sneaking off when their asleep to find a few quid. Bet hes the type of bloke who would be sqeezing his hand down the back of all the sofas in World of Leather.
His son will be getting some stick when he goes back to school .”
by Terry, hull
Friday, August 13 2010, 4:22PM
“what a plank......”
by Hollow Golightly, Supper at Tiffany's
Friday, August 13 2010, 1:30PM
“eh? "Police handcuffed him on Malia Beach" but Mr Douglas didn't realise he had been arrested until 3 hours later? What did he think was happening on Malia Beach then? Serves him right, what a ridiculous non-story.”
by Steve B., Hull
Friday, August 13 2010, 11:58AM
“You should have stuck to the Fruit Machines Dougie...lol”