Convicted Briton drug smuggler held at Bangkok airport

A British national, who was pardoned after serving jail sentence in Thailand for drug related case, was held at Bangkok Airport after trying to revisit the country.

The 44-year-old Sandra Gregory, who resides in Sowerby Bridge in Aberdeenshire, received death sentence in 1993 after being caught in possession of heroin. But she had been granted a royal pardon from Thailand’s king in 2000.

Sandra’s friends said that she tried to re-enter Thailand, but was detained at the airport. The British national is expected to be deported within the next 48 hours.

Susan May, an active miscarriages of justice crusader, said that she received SMS from Sandra telling her of what had happened. Sandra also added on the message that she is restless and has been told that her options were limited.

Susan said that Sandra was pardoned by the king of Thailand, yet she has been barred to enter the country despite having a valid tourist visa. She added that Sandra’s purpose for travelling to Thailand this time is to visit friends she had made in prison and for personal closure.

Sandra Gregory was condemned to death after being wedged with 86.9 grams of heroin inside a condom on her body in 1993. After spending four and a half years at the infamous Klong Prem Prison in Thailand, her sentence was commuted to 25 years instead after she admitted the charge. Sandra was held in a prison cell with 80 other inmates before being relocated to a jail in Kent. She eventually received a royal pardon in 2000.