British teacher, 30, jailed abroad reveals 'inhumane' living standards

• Jamie Morton said he would have to choose between drinking and showering
• He was sent to an Immigration Detention Centre after he overstayed his visa 

A British teacher, who was behind bars in a Thai prison for five months has spoken out about the 'inhumane' conditions of his cramped cell with 180 convicts.

Jamie Morton, 30, had been living in the country as an English teacher, but soon after he decided to work illegally after his visa expired, he fell into a life of drugs and alcohol.

In January 2019, Jamie was standing on a street corner and alleged he was surrounded by eight people who whisked him away to Thailand's Immigration Detention Centre (IDC)

Describing the prison as a 'horrendous' and a 'nightmare', Jamie explained prisoners were only allowed outdoors for two to three hours at a time.

He claimed running water in the maximum security prison was sometimes so scarce, he would have choose between drinking water and going for a shower.

Jamie Morton (pictured), 30, revealed he would often have to choose between drinking water and showering in the prison - where he shared a cell with 180 criminals

After he decided to work illegally as a teacher in the country, the Birmingham man fell into a life of drugs and alcohol (pictured: Thailand's Immigration Detention Centre)

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

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

'I got into the wrong crowd of people [and] I ended up being taken in by undercover police. It was one of the most abhorrent things to happen to me in my life.

'It was a nightmare, the conditions were so inhumane and horrendous.'

Detailing his ordeal, Jamie added: 'At first it is very intimidating, but, over time you live in this community of people.

'You never know when your end date would be - it was very frustrating. In my little cell, there were probably 180 people.

'Someone who stole five mobile phones would be in the same cell as someone who killed five people.

'We might be allowed out for one to two hours a day and there was no air con.'

In May 2019 Jamie became a free man and was flown home to London, where said he was 'elated' to be back on English soil.

Upon his release, Jamie was given a five-year travel ban to Thailand - which will be ending this year.

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

Describing life in the prison he said: 'It was one of the most abhorrent things to happen to me in my life. 'It was a nightmare, the conditions were so inhumane and horrendous'

'It was an amazing feeling to leave that prison but I was not convinced until the plane took off,' he said.

'Once I arrived into the UK I was elated to be back on English soil and see my family again.'

But he soon fell into old habits after arriving home, often heading down to the pub but in September 2022 he decided to turn his life around and give up the booze altogether.

'I started to get into some minor scrapes with the law when I got back and I realised enough was enough,' he said.

'I noticed everyone around me could happily go to the pub for one or two drinks and go home.

'I would be there till two am and carry on the party - I could go out for three days straight.'

A month after kicking his bad habits, the online coach met his now wife - Faaizah - and the pair tied the knot on August 15, 2023.

Since arriving back on English soil, the online coach has turned his life around, quitting drinking and later meeting his wife Faaizah

Life is 'completely different' for Jamie after his ordeal, as he know wants to steer young men away from his former lifestyle.

He has since set up an online coaching business to train young men in fitness.

'Being married has completely changed me but I still have that temptation every day to go back to drink,' he said.

'I have a totally different life now but I still have my moments where I contemplate and see if I could go to the pub for a few but it is never a few.

'I am currently teaching fitness online from the basics to competition level. Now I want to teach young men how to swerve a drink.'

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