William Eastment, the 80-year-old bowls player once suspected of being an international drug smuggler, has returned to his Somerset village after a year in a Chilean prison. He was seen shuffling through Milborne Port just days after the case against him was dropped.
Eastment, known to friends as “Billy Boy”, looks frail and dramatically changed. His hollow cheeks, painfully thin frame and cautious steps bear little resemblance to the familiar bowls player who left last year. He was cleared after prosecutors accepted he had been duped by a sophisticated criminal gang.
Return to ordinary life
Eastment is now readjusting to life at his one-bedroom housing association bungalow, supported by friends who feared his failing health might prevent his return. He has been cautiously venturing outside, taking short walks and was later spotted shopping in nearby Yeovil.
A neighbour said: “Billy has lost an incredible amount of weight and looks terribly frail. A few people have walked past without recognising him because he looks so different from before he left. He is moving very slowly, but his friends are rallying around him and helping him settle back into life at home. He’s been a bl**** fool, but everyone is relieved to see him back.”
The scam that led to prison
Eastment’s ordeal began with an email claiming he was entitled to a $10.5 million inheritance, worth around £7.85 million. Criminals used the name of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to convince him the fortune was genuine. Living on his pension, he was told a sponsor would pay for flights and hotels in return for ten per cent of the supposed inheritance.
The gang flew him around the world, including trips to Mexico and Japan. He was handed official-looking paperwork and told to sign documents. When the promised money failed to arrive, he was told to travel again to complete further paperwork. He was flown back to Mexico and given a suitcase secured with a combination lock. A woman allegedly told him it contained gifts for people associated with the IMF.
Arrest and imprisonment
Eastment was arrested at Santiago Airport on May 18 last year after arriving on a flight from Cancun, Mexico, carrying a suitcase containing more than 5kg of methamphetamine worth around £200,000. Customs officers forced the case open and discovered oversized clothing with drugs concealed beneath.
He was locked inside Santiago 1 Penitentiary, one of South America’s toughest prisons. His chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worsened in custody, and he suffered repeated bouts of pneumonia. For months, he faced the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars.
Case dismissed
Investigators examined messages and evidence on Eastment’s phone and tablet. A police report concluded there was a high probability he had been scammed into travelling. The evidence supported his account. Prosecutors dismissed the proceedings, allowing him to return to Britain without facing trial. Officials arranged an emergency passport and helped organise his journey home.
