British teacher, 30, banged up abroad reveals ‘inhumane’ living conditions including being cooped up in a cell with 180 inmates

A British teacher who spent five months in a Thai prison has spoken out about the “inhumane” conditions in his cramped cell of 180 inmates.

Jamie Morton, 30, lived in the country as an English teacher, but shortly after deciding to work illegally after his visa expired, he fell into a life of drugs and alcohol.

In January 2019, Jamie stood on a street corner and claimed he was surrounded by eight people who took him to the Thai Immigration Detention Center (IDC).

Jamie described the prison as “horrible” and a “nightmare”, with prisoners only allowed outside for two to three hours at a time.

He claimed that running water in the maximum security prison was sometimes so scarce that he had to choose between drinking water and showering.

After deciding to work illegally as a teacher in the country, the Birmingham man became embroiled in a life of drugs and alcohol (Picture: Thailand’s Immigration Detention Centre)

Jamie was taken into custody for overstaying his visa, which can result in fines, arrest and detention in an IDC in the East Asian country, according to GOV.UK.

Jamie, an online coach from Birmingham, said: ‘I was young, living in Thailand and working illegally as a teacher.

‘I fell into the wrong crowd of people [and] I was eventually caught by undercover police. It was one of the most disgusting things that ever happened to me in my life.

“It was a nightmare, the conditions were so inhuman and horrible.”

Jamie told of his ordeal: “It’s very intimidating at first, but over time you live in this community of people.

‘You never know when your end date is – it was very frustrating. There were probably 180 people in my small cell.

‘Someone who steals five mobile phones is in the same cell as someone who kills five people.

‘We were sometimes allowed to go outside for an hour or two a day, but there was no air conditioning.’

In May 2019, Jamie became a free man and was flown back to London. He said he was ‘happy’ to be back on English soil.

After his release, Jamie was banned from traveling to Thailand for five years. This ban expires this year.

In January 2019, Jamie stood on a street corner and claimed he was surrounded by eight people. They took him to the IDC for his visa violation.

He described life in prison this way: ‘It was one of the most disgusting things that happened to me in my life. ‘It was a nightmare, the conditions were so inhumane and terrible’

“It was a great feeling to leave prison, but I wasn’t convinced until the plane took off,” he said.

‘When I arrived in the UK I was happy to be back on English soil and to see my family again.’

But at home he quickly fell back into his old habits and often went to the pub. In September 2022, however, he decided to turn his life around and give up drinking altogether.

“When I came back, I got into some minor trouble with the law and I realized enough was enough,” he said.

‘I noticed that everyone around me would happily go to the pub for one or two drinks and then go home.

“I would be there until two in the morning and continue the party – I could go out for three days in a row.”

A month after overcoming his bad habits, the online coach met his current wife, Faaizah, and on August 15, 2023, the two got married.

Since returning to England, the online coach has turned his life around, quit drinking and later met his wife Faaizah

Life is ‘completely different’ for Jamie after his ordeal as he knows he wants to distract young men from his former lifestyle.

Since then he has started an online coaching business to train young men in fitness.

“Being married has changed me completely, but I’m still tempted to drink again every day,” he said.

‘I have a very different life now, but I still have moments where I think and see if I can go to the pub for a few, but it’s never just a few.

‘I currently teach fitness classes online from basic to competitive level. Now I want to teach young men how to hold off on a drink.’