THE DESPERATE father of the Corfe Castle man languishing in a tough Hungarian prison is taking his son’s case to Westminster today.

Michael Turner, who has spent 22 days in detention, was extradited after the Hungarian authorities accused him and business partner Jason McGoldrick of defrauding more than 100 people following the collapse of their Budapest-based marketing firm in 2004.

Both men, who deny any wrongdoing, are being held in a large prison on the outskirts of Budapest without charge.

The pair, who are being kept apart, spend 23 hours a day locked in their cramped cells with up to four other prisoners.

They could be detained for up to a year without trial, then face an additional three-year sentence if convicted.

Dad Mark Turner, who has finally spoken to 27-year-old Michael during an emotional phone call, is travelling to London with around 50 supporters.

Mr Turner – who runs the popular Castle Inn pub in Corfe Castle – will hand a letter to South Dorset MP Jim Knight, to be conveyed to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, expressing his concerns over the case and prison conditions.

“It was great to finally speak to Michael on the phone,” said Mr Turner. “But of course, it confirmed what I’d already been saying – that he is being held in poor conditions.”

Michael is sharing a cell with three Hungarian nationals and a Romanian prisoner. Only the Romanian man speaks a few words of English.

“When I spoke to him, he’d just had a meal consisting of a large lump of white pork fat and a piece of bread.

“He still hasn’t been able to brush his teeth, he’s had no access to reading material, to television, or any contact with the outside world.

“But, given the circumstances, he sounded very strong.”

However, it does seem that Michael – who is a strapping 6ft 3in former rugby player – is faring better than ex-business partner Jason McGoldrick.

Mr Turner said: “Jason’s wife was very distraught after speaking to him on the phone.

“He is a non-smoking asthmatic in a cell with three, tough prisoners who all smoke.

“These three have been bullying and intimidating him. They’ve stolen his wrist watch and spectacles and told him anything personal that comes to him must be handed over, or face physical retribution.

“I still cannot understand how two British Citizens could be extradited to this cruel, barbaric regime.”