A British tourist has claimed he was unlawfully detained in a Bulgarian immigration centre for two weeks after approaching police to report his passport stolen.

Robert Weaver, 38, a pilot from Birmingham, said what was meant to be a short three-day trip to Bulgaria turned into a harrowing fortnight in detention, during which he was unable to contact his family and almost lost his job.

Weaver had travelled alone to the ski resort town of Bansko in October 2025 to view a property near the popular holiday destination. 

He was staying in a bed and breakfast when, on the morning of his departure, he discovered his passport was missing from the safe in his room. 

After reporting the disappearance to the property owner, Weaver went to the police station directly opposite the accommodation to formally report the theft.

Robert said: 'My passport was stolen from my hotel room, so I went to report it at the police station across the road.

'The police asked me to verify my identity, I told them that would be a bit difficult with my passport missing, but that I had copies of my identification online.'

Despite providing details of his return flight and explaining that he had previously lived in Bulgaria, Weaver claims officers said they could not confirm who he was. 

Instead, Weaver said he was placed in a cold police cell with no access to toilets or drinking water. 

Robert Weaver said he was locked up in a Bulgarian detention centre after reporting that his passport was missing

During his time in detention, he says he was not allowed to contact his family and nearly lost his job 

'I gave them my flight number as well, so that they could verify my identity with the immigration officers at Sofia airport,' he said.

'I also had a property in Bulgaria a few years ago, and was a resident, so it would have been very easy for them to verify my identity.' 

The following day, he was transferred to an immigration detention facility.

At the centre, Weaver claims he was confined to a cell with six other detainees, given one meal a day, which was 'basically just rice' and allowed just 20 minutes outside.

'I shared a cell with six people and if you wanted to use the toilet, you had to ask the guards to take you to a hole in the ground,' he said.

Weaver said he repeatedly asked to contact his wife and father but was denied phone access throughout his detention.

'I spent two weeks in there, and wasn't allowed to call my wife or my father to let them know I was OK,' he said. 'I almost lost my job, as they couldn't get hold of me.' 

He also claimed police refused him access to a solicitor, telling him none were available.