A British woman who gained notoriety online as a “mum on the run” has been jailed for 26 months after admitting drug offences shortly after returning to the UK. Ellis Matthews, 35, was sentenced after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine and possessing cocaine and cannabis, following her deportation from Thailand. The case has drawn attention due to her social media claims about living abroad while allegedly receiving UK benefits.
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Matthews fled the UK in 2021 while pregnant and spent four years in Thailand, where she documented her lifestyle on social media. She posted videos claiming she was receiving £2,300 a month in UK benefits while living overseas and shared tips on how others could do the same. Her online persona portrayed a “dream life”, often featuring bikini-clad videos that gained her significant attention.
During her time in Thailand, Matthews was detained for overstaying her visa and held in what she described as a “hell-hole” prison with rats and cockroaches. She spent 108 days in custody before being deported back to Britain in 2025 without her four-year-old son. Within weeks of returning to Lancashire, she was arrested in connection with drug offences.
At court, Matthews admitted the charges and was remanded to HMP Styal to begin serving her sentence. The 108 days she spent in a Thai jail will be counted towards her prison term. Her case has highlighted concerns about social media content that appears to promote or normalise illegal activity, particularly involving public funds.
Matthews has since claimed that her online statements about fraudulently claiming benefits were not true. She said: “The truth is I never got any UK benefits while in Thailand, not a single penny. It was all a big hoax, that’s all. I can understand why people were angry and upset about them.”
Authorities have not confirmed any benefit fraud charges linked to her claims, and her conviction relates solely to drug offences committed after her return to the UK. The case may prompt further scrutiny of online content that encourages unlawful behaviour or misrepresents entitlement to public funds.
The Sun reported that Matthews will serve her custodial sentence, reduced by time already spent in custody in Thailand. It remains unclear whether further investigations will be carried out into her previous claims or whether any action will be taken regarding her social media activity.
Pictures courtesy of The Sun
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Adapted by ASEAN Now TheSun 21 Mar 2026