‘Living On Taxpayers’ Money’: British Woman’s Online Confession Lands Her In A Thai ‘Hell’

Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 21:02 IST

Ellis Matthews, a British woman, has been flaunting her £2,300-a-month lifestyle in Thailand, which she claimed was funded by UK benefits. She is now detained with her 4-year-old son.

Ellis Matthews jailed in Thailand after boasting about UK benefits.

In a bizarre twist of fate, a British woman who once flaunted her lavish lifestyle on the internet now finds herself behind bars in a Thai detention centre along with her young son. Ellis Matthews, 32, became an internet sensation after openly admitting on social media that she was living a £2,300-a-month lifestyle (approximately Rs 2.5 lakh) in Thailand, funded by benefits from the UK government. But her public confession quickly spiraled into a nightmare, leading to her arrest and a grim reality she now describes as “hell”.

A Lavish Life Built on Taxpayer Money

Matthews, originally from UK, posted a controversial video on social media in which she claimed that her comfortable life in Thailand was financed by benefits provided by the UK government. She stated that she was receiving financial aid due to six mental health disorders and had been using the money to support her lifestyle in Pattaya, a popular tourist destination in Thailand.

Her admission sparked outrage in the UK, with many questioning how she was able to claim benefits while living overseas. But the fallout didn’t end with public backlash. On March 3, Thai authorities raided her residence in Pattaya and arrested her. Matthews and her four-year-old son were subsequently transferred to the Mothers and Children Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok, a facility she now compares to a nightmare.

‘Worse Than Hell’: Life Behind Bars

Speaking to the media from inside the detention centre, Matthews painted a harrowing picture of her new reality. “This place is nothing less than hell,” she said, adding, “It’s the worst jail you can imagine. I’m locked in a cell with 16 other people all day, and no one speaks English. It’s unbearably hot and so crowded that it’s hard to breathe.”

Matthews described how she and her son developed skin rashes and lice infestations. She claimed that rats roamed freely through the facility, and the food served is so unappetising that she suspects the meat might be rat or pigeon – though guards insist it’s chicken. Even the rice, she says, makes her feel sick.

Adding to her predicament, Matthews claimed that Thai authorities have offered her the option of deportation – but only if she can purchase a plane ticket. However, with her bank funds inaccessible from detention, she’s trapped in a bureaucratic limbo.

Matthews’ case has only grown more convoluted since her arrest. Despite her dire circumstances, she has expressed reluctance to return to UK, even suggesting that she may renounce her British citizenship. Her story took an even stranger turn when she claimed to have received £1.6 million from Lancashire authorities during her childhood, a claim that has not been substantiated by any official records.

Before her arrest, Matthews’ viral video had raised questions about the legitimacy of her benefits. In the clip, she had stated, “I have six types of mental disorders that require treatment, which is why taxpayers’ money is used to help me.” But following the backlash, she retracted her claims, insisting that it was all a joke and that she had not actually received any benefits.

Her situation inspired mixed reactions, with some expressing sympathy while others condemn her actions. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to raise £1,500 to support her legal fees and living expenses, but as of now, it has only collected £180.

Matthews’ case has sparked debate over the oversight of government benefits and the responsibility of recipients. Was she genuinely exploiting the system, or was her social media confession exaggerated for attention? As Matthews remains behind bars in Bangkok, the truth behind her story remains uncertain.