Scot feared he was 'goner'

A SCOTTISH man who was apparently kidnapped and tortured in the Algarve has spoken of his ordeal.

James Ross, from Wick in Caithness, disappeared after travelling to Portugal on 5 October.

According to reports the 26-year-old had an ear, two fingers and three toes chopped off and was kept in a cage in a row over an unpaid debt.

In October, newspaper Correio da Manha claimed Mr Ross was tortured for 13 days before escaping from his captors in the village of Boliqueime, near the town of Loule, on 18 October.

He was found bleeding in the street in the nearby village of Alfontes.

Four British men were arrested after Mr Ross was found injured and are being held in custody in Lisbon.

Mr Ross said: "Nobody can imagine what I've been through. I was tortured within an inch of my life. I really did think I was a goner."