A British man has asked a judge to send him back to prison as he has nowhere to live and no income, while awaiting trial in Spain. He wrote to the judge, “Dear sir, I do not have a permanent address. I cannot find a job, as I have no money. I have slept in the streets on several occasions. My father is too ill to travel and I may never see him again. I would rather return to jail, since I think that is the quickest way to return to England and find work.”

The letter is signed by Craig F. Callaghan, who is accused of drug trafficking. It is addressed to a courthouse in Figueres, Catalonia. But the judge has denied his request for voluntary admission into prison. Callaghan was arrested in June 2007. He and four other people were allegedly sailing from Benalmádena, in Málaga, to Roses, Gerona, with 2.5 tons of hashish on board. The 40-year-old was remanded in custody until last July, when he posted 3,000 euros in bail provided by family members, said his lawyer, Carles Monguilod.

Now he cannot leave Spain until the trial takes place and has no way to support himself. “This is a perfect example of how the justice system sometimes acts without any logic,” said Monguilo.