I was locked in a brutal jail in Thailand because of my crazy behaviour -but the experience changed my life, inspiring me to convert to Islam and ditch alcohol

A bodybuilder has told his whirlwind life story, including being jailed in Thailand for his ‘crazy’ behavior, converting to Islam and giving up alcohol.

TV presenter Vogue Williams speaks to mums and dads and their adult children to discuss topics they’ve rarely or never spoken about in The Mail’s new podcast: The apple and the tree.

These are deep, intimate and revealing conversations covering love, grief, shame, sexuality, religion, addiction, identity and much more, recorded in the guests’ homes, with Vogue unpacking what was shared at the end of each episode .

In the latest episode, Jamie Morton speaks to his mother Jacqui in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, about his ‘brutal’ and ‘shocking’ experience in a Thai prison several years ago.

Jamie is an online fitness instructor and global bodybuilding competitor who wanted to talk to Jacqui about his decision to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim woman.

Listen to the full episode with Jamie and Jacqui on the Apple & The Tree podcast:

From an early age, Jamie had obsessive tendencies, hated school and became a heavy drinker.

Jacqui wanted to know if he remembered his youthful mania for magic tricks, how scared she was when she discovered his body-building drugs, and how welcomed she felt by Jamie’s wife’s family.

Jacqui initially discovered that Jamie, now 30, was using steroids when she cleaned his room and discovered his stash, causing her to fear for his health.

But Jamie’s problems would only get worse: during his visit to Thailand he said he had taken his behavior ‘too far’ and got ‘into trouble’.

Jamie shared his story in a bid to motivate others not to misbehave when it comes to drugs and alcohol abroad and revealed he ended up in prison.

He said: ‘I was stuck in a prison as the only white English man. It was raw and it happened right before my eyes and I’m in a whole world of trouble here.

‘The things that happened there were brutal, disgusting, disgusting and shocking and I will never forget them and I will take them with me to the grave.

‘Things you have to do in there, otherwise you’re in a whole world of trouble. And you just get eaten because it’s all run by gangs.”

Jamie spoke to his mother Jacqui, 58, for the latest episode of Vogue Williams’ podcast, The Apple & The Tree

Jamie, who has now converted to Islam, admitted his behavior had gotten out of hand

He added that the maximum security prison was surrounded by barbed wire, guards with guns and even a moat.

Criminals in prison included those convicted of crimes such as murder.

“You kind of think, ‘Am I ever going to get out of here?'” he said.

The fitness fanatic says he was working in the country illegally after overstaying his tourist visa and hanging out with some “unsavory” characters.

Even after getting out of prison, Jamie was given a five-year travel ban to Thailand, which doesn’t expire until next month.

However, he has managed to stay out of trouble and has turned his life around significantly in recent times.

Jamie met his wife Faaizah in October 2022. After they broke up, Jamie asked if they could reunite, and the couple decided to get married.

TV host Vogue Williams speaks candidly with parents and their adult children to discuss topics they’ve rarely or never talked about in her new podcast Apple & The Tree

The Apple & The Tree Podcast: Listen wherever you get your podcasts

Jamie then embarked on another life-changing step: he began researching Islam and reading more and more about it.

He had already given up alcohol, given up pork for health reasons and was doing intermittent fasting for bodybuilding.

“I thought, ‘I’m actually doing this,’” Jamie said, before visiting a number of mosques in London. He converted to Islam last April.

He said: ‘I’m in the very early stages. I do it at my own pace and my wife is very understanding of that.

‘Right now I’m just sticking to no booze, no pork and Ramadan is coming up, which we’re both going to do and practice.’

Listen to the latest episode of our podcast The Apple & The Tree, hosted by Vogue Williams on Spotify or Apple podcasts. New episodes are released every Friday.