Suspected bowls-playing drug mule released from prison in Chile on health grounds

Fintan Starkey
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:31:15 +0000

An 80-year-old British pensioner accused of international drug smuggling has been transferred from a Chilean jail to house arrest after his health dramatically worsened behind bars.

William Eastment, known as "Billy Boy", a former mechanic and enthusiastic bowls player, was moved from Santiago 1 Penitentiary following a court hearing on Monday where both prosecution and defence agreed his physical state had severely declined.

The octogenarian from Britain has been held in pretrial detention since May last year after authorities allegedly discovered close to five kilograms of methamphetamine in his luggage during a stopover in the Chilean capital. He was travelling from Mexico to Australia at the time, The Mirror reports.

Mr Eastment has repeatedly insisted he was deceived into transporting the suitcase and denies knowingly carrying drugs. The Santiago Guarantee Court ruled he should serve full house arrest while criminal proceedings continue.

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His lawyer, Macarena Vial, painted a grim picture of his medical condition to the court.

"He is in a very critical health situation, with chronic problems that have been severely aggravated in Santiago 1," she said.

"He is a person requiring care, basically. He has a chronic lung disease, a colostomy that poses a constant risk of infection, and a series of other problems."

The court was told Mr Eastment had shed more than three stone while incarcerated. A hernia situated directly beneath his colostomy requires surgical intervention and necessitates specialised medical bags.

Sources familiar with the case revealed he endured multiple pneumonia episodes during his time in custody, compounding his already serious underlying health issues. One source stated: "His health isn't good at all. He's very vulnerable, and being in prison is making everything worse. There's real concern about how much longer he can cope."

Obtaining the necessary colostomy bags proved exceptionally complicated. Ms Vial explained: "Obtaining colostomy bags has been quite complex. The family had to transfer funds to the embassy, and from there they bought them and sent them to Santiago. It's a very difficult coordination because you have to coordinate with the Gendarmerie in a prison that is overwhelmed."

The prison itself did not supply the expensive specialist bags, which had to be imported from overseas. Whenever his stock ran out, Mr Eastment lacked the medical equipment to manage waste properly, leaving him perpetually at risk of infection.

Under the court's ruling, the pensioner will now reside in a shelter in western Santiago organised with assistance from Chile's Public Criminal Defence Office. He will receive daily supervision and care at the facility.

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The court additionally directed he be enrolled in Chile's national health system and registered with a local family health centre to ensure proper medical treatment.

Mr Eastment's time in custody was marked by profound isolation due to language barriers. He depended on fellow prisoners to help him communicate with staff and navigate daily life.

Ms Vial described how he found companionship during his first months inside. "For the first six or eight months, he was with someone who spoke native English, and they formed a very nice friendship," she said. "After that, he was more alone."

His mental state fluctuated considerably throughout his detention. "At first, he went through some very difficult times because he didn't see much of a way out," his lawyer added. "But we've tried to support him and give him some hope that this isn't permanent."

Despite his struggles, Mr Eastment formed bonds with other inmates.

"He's someone who inspires compassion; many people have taken care of him," Ms Vial noted, adding while his current condition represents an improvement since his arrest, it remains extremely fragile.

Mr Eastment told prosecutors he believed he had fallen victim to an elaborate scam.

According to his lawyer, he received emails from someone called Carolina claiming a relative in New Zealand had died and he needed to travel to Auckland to sign inheritance documents at a notary's office. The individuals allegedly presented themselves as connected to the International Monetary Fund.

Legal representatives have been working to expedite proceedings given his deteriorating condition. "They are negotiating a shortened trial and process," a source said.

"It's essentially an attempt to resolve the case more quickly, given his condition."

Returning Mr Eastment to Britain has not proved feasible. While expulsion from Chile sometimes replaces prison sentences, this option is unavailable for drug-related offences under Chilean law.

Because he entered the country as a tourist, Mr Eastment was initially ineligible for state healthcare and required financial support for treatment. Criminal proceedings against him continue.