According to his website, guy's a Scot and living on a small island in Thailand, Koh Phangan to be precise. Good luck with taking legal action.
couple of contracts a year paid in pounds/usd/euro/yen and you could sustain a happy life.
visas are a bastard, you need to skip the country every few months to renew your tourist visa.
I have had Thai clients ask to see my work permit before and I am very proud to be able to show them it as most foreign freelancers dont have one.