From TikToker to locktoker: British influencer jailed in Thailand
In a stunning reversal of fortune, a British influencer, once a millionaire and reality TV sensation, now finds herself languishing behind bars in Thailand.
The 32 year old woman, originally from Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, is accused of overstaying her visa, casting a shadow over what was a sun-soaked, idyllic lifestyle.
Ellis Matthews, who reportedly left England four years ago to escape a troubled past, became an online sensation with her TikTok account, @mumontheruninasia.
Boasting 16,400 followers, her videos chronicled life in a tourist paradise, allegedly funded by UK taxpayers, according to The Daily Mail.
The British tabloid also alleges the influencer gained notoriety for brazenly sharing tips on how to claim British benefits while living abroad.
In a video that caused a stir, she reportedly showed off a fistful of cash while wearing a string bikini.
“I picked up my Disability Living Allowance today and I’ve been doing so for the past four years of not living in the UK.”
She claimed a diagnosis of six mental disorders justified her need for £2,300 (101,000 baht) a month from the NHS.
“Without in-house treatment, without me being put into a hospital for a minimum of one year, my prognosis is quite poor. Therefore I need ongoing treatment costs to be met by the NHS by the taxpayer, thank you very much.”
But her comfortable Thai existence crumbled when police raided her Pattaya home, arresting her for overstaying her visa. Matthews says she’s now enduring grim conditions in a Thai detention centre.
One of her TikTok posts shows a fellow inmate behind bars in a squalid cell, with rubbish strewn on the floor, captioned: “I don’t care about me but please pray for my son.”
Her young son, Cairo, aged three, lives in Thailand with her, but the mother reportedly doesn’t miss the older children she left in the UK, referring to them as “surrogacies,” reported The Daily Mail.
Back home, her jaw-dropping lifestyle claims have drawn scepticism. While the UK Government allows some benefits for citizens abroad depending on their destination and duration, Thailand isn’t typically on the approved list.
British citizens with a tourist visa can stay for up to three months, with a possible one-month extension. Overstaying incurs a fine of 500 baht (about £11.40) per day.
A GoFundMe page set up in Matthews’ name has raised £150 (6,500 baht) so far, claiming: “Funds needed to support Mum on the Run and Cairo.” However, this account was reportedly started without her permission, casting further doubt on her situation.
Sceptics on a separate TikTok account, @lifeWithEllis2025, warned followers against donating.
“Ellis is fed, watered, and sheltered whilst detained. Cairo is being cared for and doesn’t need any money.”
Before her arrest, Matthews was no stranger to controversy. Her past includes an appearance on the reality show Judge Rinder where she claimed, without official record, to have received £6 million (263 million baht) in compensation for a neglected childhood filled with drug raids and over 130 foster placements.
Adding to her chequered history, Matthews faced legal trouble in the UK in 2020 for drug driving, tested positive for cocaine and cannabis behind the wheel, and was fined £200 with £85 in costs.
As she faces an uncertain future in Thailand, her family and followers watch with bated breath.
Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail
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