Brit backpacker facing life in prison for dealing drugs in Thailand was arrested just days after marrying in paradise island ceremony and is a new father

A Briton facing life in prison in Thailand is a new father who was arrested just days after getting married in a romantic ceremony on a remote paradise island.

Andrew Brett, 35, was reportedly carrying a stash of cocaine and LSD when he was detained following a five month undercover police operation.

His devastated parents, John and Ann, told of their shock as news of their son's arrest began to emerge just days after they returned from a month-long break on the island of Koh Tao.

Andrew's father John, 82, told how his son had appeared to have 'everything to look forward to' and 'a bright future ahead of him' after tying the knot with Thai-born wife in a beachside ceremony.

Retired electrician John told MailOnline: 'This has come as a great shock - we haven't been told anything.

Andrew Brett (pictured), 35, was reportedly carrying a stash of cocaine and LSD when he was detained following a five month undercover police operation

A police spokesman said that the case had been kept confidential for several months

Andrew's devastated parents John and Ann (pictured together) told of their shock as news of their son's arrest emerged after they returned from a month-long break on the island of Koh Tao

Andrew's father was speaking to MailOnline at the family's £800,000 home in Surrey

'We've just come back from Thailand. We went for the wedding.

'Everything seemed perfect. It was a beautiful ceremony. He has a lovely wife and their son is not yet four months old.

'We had such a wonderful time. Now to think this has happened. It just doesn't make sense.'

Andrew, who grew up in Worcester Park, Surrey, and went to the state Richard Challoner School had allegedly been peddling hard drugs to tourists at the Ecco Bar in the island's southern province of Surat Thani.

The former locksmith had been living on the island for more than two years.

Two of his sisters have been based in Thailand for many years and both had established businesses there running bars, cafes and a diving school.

The three siblings all live on the island where Andrew was renting an apartment and was hoping to settle down after starting a family and going into business with friends - owning a share in a local bar.

Speaking at the family's £800,000 home where Andrew grew up John, a father-of-five, said: 'We had a month in Thailand - it was beautiful.

'He's got a baby who's less than four months old. A beautiful boy. He loves it out there. He didn't want to come back.

Andrew was arrested just days after getting married in a romantic ceremony on a remote paradise island 

Andrew now faces a punishment of up to life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on how severe judges deem the case

'It's a very popular island for diving.

'He's in a partnership with two or three people who run a bar. You have to have a Thai person who is an owner. He had shares in it.

'He went out there initially a few years ago. He came back and was working with his brother as a locksmith and then he went out again a couple of years ago and hasn't been back.

'Two of his sisters are out there. One has been there for 22 years. They run their own little bars, a café and a diving school.'

Just days before his arrest Andrew posted a touching video of the wedding ceremony which took place on his 'beautiful little island paradise'.

Around 80 friends and family attended the ceremony in which the couple, who both wore white, were showered in petals after exchanging their vows against the idyllic backdrop.

John said: 'It was such a beautiful ceremony on the beach. The sun was shining. There were some beautiful flowers they made up into an archway. All her relations came down from up north.

Koh Tao was dubbed Death Island following the murders of British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller in 2014 (File image)

Dozens more unexplained deaths of tourists on the island later emerged, causing it to be given the chilling moniker Death Island (File image)

'At one point I looked up at him and we both started to cry. It was so touching.

'There were people there from all nationalities. They all had bars or dive schools. They were very well spoken and were a really good group of friends.

'There were drinks and nibbles. It was the best ever.

'I just can't believe this has happened.

'He had everything going for him. He seemed to have the perfect life.

'I was with him a few days ago and we had dinner with the whole family. They came up to the pool at the hotel where we were staying. There was nothing to suggest anything like this at all.'

John said he had had no contact with the authorities and had not been informed officially of his son's arrest.

He said: 'We have not been told anything by anyone. There has been no-one from the Foreign Office who has contacted us and told us anything.

'I'm sure his sisters will be helping him. The younger one has been out there for many years.

'I will try and find out what is going on from my daughter because I've been told nothing. This has come as a shock.

'My wife will be devastated.

'We only got back on Sunday and didn't know anything about it. It took 24 hours to get back. It was a two hour ferry to Koh Samui then we flew to Singapore and back from there.'

Police reportedly swooped after launching an investigation following a tip-off from a concerned patron that the Brit was distributing drugs at the bar.

They reportedly tracked Andrew's activities for five months before arresting him on his way to the establishment on February 29.

Officers allegedly found 0.54 grams of ecstasy in a plastic bag, 25 ecstasy pills, and 75 LSD sheets, known locally as 'magic paper', among his belongings.

Police allege Andrew left his apartment every day at 8pm to sell the drugs to customers at the bar which is a short walk from Sairee Beach where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were bludgeoned to death on the island in 2014.

Dozens more unexplained deaths of tourists on the island later emerged, causing it to be given the chilling moniker Death Island.

Andrew reportedly admitted the stash belonged to him and was charged with possession of Category I narcotics for distribution. He now faces a punishment of up to life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on how severe judges deem the case.

It is unclear whether Andrew remains in custody or has been released on bail. His social media accounts have been active in recent days but there has been no mention of his plight.

John said: 'We just don't know what's happening or what's going to happen. Things seem to work differently out there. It was such a relaxed place. It was very quiet except there were a lot of all-night parties on the beach while we were there. They were going on all the time.

'But it really was very peaceful. We didn't see a single policeman on the island the whole time we were out there. We had such a wonderful time. Now to think this has happened. They can be very strict out there. They put people in prison and then throw away the key - that's how we perceive it. It's a very worrying time.' 

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.