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
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A bodybuilder has opened up about his whirlwind life story, including being jailed in Thailand for his 'crazy' behaviour to now converting to Islam and giving up alcohol.
TV presenter Vogue Williams speaks to mothers and fathers and their adult children to discuss subjects they’ve rarely, if ever, talked about in The Mail's new podcast, The Apple & The Tree.
These are deep, intimate, and revealing conversations that move through love, grief, shame, sexuality, religion, addiction, identity and so much more, recorded in guests' own homes, with Vogue unpacking what's been shared at the end of each episode.
In the latest episode, Jamie Morton speaks to his mother Jacqui in Tunbridge Wells in Kent about his 'brutal' and 'shocking' experience in a Thai jail several years ago.
Jamie is an online fitness instructor and global body-building 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:
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The Apple & The Tree with Vogue Williams: Jamie and Jacqui
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Bodybuilder Jamie Morton has opened up about the time he spent in jail in Thailand
From a young age, Jamie had obsessive tendencies, he hated school and became a heavy drinker.
Jacqui wanted to know if he recalled his youthful mania for magic tricks, how terrified she was when she discovered his body-building drugs, and how welcome she was made to feel by Jamie’s wife’s family.
Jacqui initially found out Jamie, now 30, was taking steroids when she tidied his room, discovering his stash - making her fear for his health.
But Jamie's troubles were set to get worse: while visiting Thailand, he says he took his behaviour 'too far' and got into a 'big pickle'.
Sharing his story in a bid to motivate others not to misbehave abroad when it comes to drugs and alcohol, Jamie revealed he ended up jail.
He said: 'I was stuck in a jail as the only white English guy. It was raw and it was happening right in front me and I'm in a whole world of trouble here.
'The things that were going on in there were brutal, abhorrent, disgusting and shocking and I will never forget those and I will take them to the grave.
'Things that you have to do in there, otherwise you're in a whole world of trouble. And you just get eaten up because it's all run by gangs.'
Jamie was speaking 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 behaviour had spiralled out of control
He added that the maximum security prison was surrounded by barbed wire, guards with guns, and even a moat.
Among the criminals in the jail were those who'd been convicted for crimes like murder.
'You're kind of like, "am I ever getting out of here?'", he said.
The fitness fanatic says he was working illegally in the country after overstaying his tourist visa and hanging around with some 'unsavory' characters.
Even after getting out of jail, Jamie was handed a five-year ban on travel to Thailand, which only ends next month.
However, he has managed to keep out of trouble, and has changed his life considerably in recent times.
Jamie met his wife Faaizah in October 2022. After they had a break up, Jamie asked if they could reunite, and the couple decided to wed.
TV presenter Vogue Williams candidly speaks to parents and their adult children to discuss subjects they've rarely, if ever, 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 move: he began to research Islam, reading more and more about it.
He had already given up alcohol, had cut out pork for health reasons and did intermittent fasting for bodybuilding.
'I thought, I'm basically doing this anyway', said Jamie, and went on to visit a couple of mosques in London. Last April, he converted to Islam.
He said: 'I'm in very very early stages. I take it at my own pace and my wife is very understanding of that.
'Currently I just adhere to no drink, no pork and we've got Ramadan coming up, which we're both going to be doing and practicing.'
Listen to the latest episode of our podcast The Apple & The Tree, hosted by Vogue Williams on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. New episodes released every Friday.
