A commercial pilot from Birmingham has described a harrowing two-week detention in Bulgaria, where he was held in squalid conditions after simply trying to report his passport stolen.
From Tourist to Detainee: A Holiday Nightmare
Robert Weaver, aged 38, travelled solo to the ski resort of Bansko in October 2025 for a short break. On his final day, he discovered his passport had been taken from the safe in his "pretty basic" bed and breakfast. He promptly informed the B&B owner and then crossed the road to the local police station to file a report.
After giving his statement, officers asked him to prove his identity. Robert explained that with his passport missing, this was difficult, but he had digital copies of his documents available online. He also provided his flight details so police could check with immigration officials at Sofia Airport, and noted he had previously been a resident in Bulgaria, which should have made verification straightforward.
Despite this, police claimed they could not confirm who he was. Robert's request for a solicitor was, he alleges, refused on the grounds that none were available. He was then placed in a cold cell at the station with no toilet or drinking water.
Two Weeks of "Inhumane" Conditions
The situation deteriorated rapidly. The next day, Robert was transferred, not to the British Embassy as he was initially told, but to the Busmantsi immigration detention centre near Sofia. Here, he was forced to sign forms written in Bulgarian, which he refused to do without understanding them or legal representation.
He recalls the head of migration telling him: "if you don't sign here, we're going to leave you to rot." Robert was then thrown into a cell with six other people. The conditions were stark: inmates were given just one meal of rice per day, allowed only 20 minutes of outdoor exercise, and had to ask guards for permission to use a hole in the ground as a toilet. Basic hygiene products and towels were absent.
For the entire fortnight of his detention, Robert was prevented from contacting his wife or family, leaving them in a state of panic and almost costing him his job as his employer could not reach him.
Secret Phone Call Leads to Freedom and Legal Fight
Robert's release came only after a fellow detainee managed to smuggle a mobile phone into the cell. Using this device, Robert finally contacted the British Embassy in Sofia. Embassy staff acted swiftly, dispatching police from Sofia to retrieve him. Robert stated that these officers were "really, really helpful" and apologetic, claiming they had no idea why he had been detained.
The Embassy provided him with emergency travel documents, and within three days he was back home with his relieved family. Robert is now pursuing legal action against the Bulgarian authorities for unlawful imprisonment.
A spokesperson for the British Embassy in Sofia confirmed: "We supported a British man who was detained in Bulgaria and were in touch with the local authorities." Bansko police have been approached for comment regarding the incident.
