For over a decade, Britain’s “cocaine grandma” has been locked away in a rotting Bali prison, sentenced to die by firing squad. Now, Lindsay Sandiford – who planned to face execution singing “Magic Moments”– is back in the spotlight, as a jaw-dropping twist jolts her death row nightmare.
Cheltenham’s Lindsay Sandiford, now 69, had lived a quiet life working in legal management before her world fell apart. Following a painful separation from her husband and worsening financial struggles that led to eviction, Sandiford left for India in 2012, hoping for a fresh start.
But just months later, on May 19, 2012, she flew into Bali from Bangkok carrying a secret that would change her life forever.
Authorities at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport discovered 11 pounds (4.8 kg) of cocaine hidden in the lining of her suitcase. She was immediately arrested, and her name was shot into international headlines.
“I had to protect my children”
At first, Sandiford insisted she was forced into smuggling by a violent criminal gang who threatened to harm her family. Under immense pressure and terrified by the prospect of execution, she eventually named others she claimed were involved – British antiques dealer Julian Ponder, his partner Rachel Dougall, and Paul Beales.
According to Channel 4 News, Sandiford testified that she only agreed to carry the drugs because “the lives of my children were in danger.”
While the other Britons served relatively short sentences – with rumors swirling of bribes to soften charges – Sandiford’s cooperation brought her no mercy. Despite prosecutors recommending 15 years in prison, judges in Bali sentenced the alleged drug mule to death by firing squad.
Brutal executions
Indonesia’s executions are rare but brutal. Convicts are led to an isolated field, blindfolded, and shot by a squad of 12 riflemen. If the initial volley doesn’t kill, the commander delivers a final shot to the head, explains the Daily Record.
The last executions took place in 2015, and according to the Mirror, around 130 people – including Sandiford – are currently awaiting execution.
Life on death row
Sandiford was sent to Kerobokan Prison, a facility notorious for overcrowding – built for 300 but holding more than 1,400 inmates. Appeals against her sentence were dismissed after her funds dried up, forcing her to rely on donations to cover legal fees.
In 2015, she described her torment in The Mail on Sunday. “My execution is imminent, and I know I might die at any time now. I could be taken tomorrow from my cell. I have started to write goodbye letters to members of my family,” she wrote, per Le Monde. In her letter, she also revealed that she had planned to sing the upbeat Perry Como classic “Magic Moments” as her final act before facing the firing squad.
And for years, while living under the constant shadow of death, she survived by knitting scarves and small crafts to sell to visitors.
Repatriation deal
Now, after 12 years on death row, Sandiford’s case has taken a dramatic turn.
On Oct. 21, 2025, Indonesia’s minister for law and human rights, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, confirmed that he signed a deal with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper for the grandmother’s repatriation.
“We agreed to grant the transfers of the prisoners to the UK. The agreement has been signed,” Yusril said at a press conference, according to the BBC.
Sandiford will be returned alongside another British national, 35-year-old Shahab Shahabadi, who is serving a life sentence for unrelated crimes.
Both prisoners, officials said, are in poor health – Sandiford is “seriously ill” and Shahabadi struggling with “several serious health issues, particularly mental health disorders.”
The BBC reported that the pair are expected to be transferred in about two weeks, once technical arrangements are finalized.
A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed: “We are supporting two British Nationals detained in Indonesia and are in close contact with the Indonesian authorities to discuss their return to the UK.”
Future unclear
Indonesia and the UK do not have a formal prisoner transfer treaty, meaning Sandiford’s legal status once back in Britain remains unclear. Typically, repatriated prisoners must serve out their sentences at home, but in cases involving death penalties, agreements can vary.
For Sandiford, who has lived for 12 years under the constant threat of execution, the news marks an astonishing reprieve. Whether she will face further time behind bars in the UK or be released due to her health remains to be seen.
What is certain, however, is that Britain’s most infamous “death row grandma” is finally heading home – a shocking ending to one of the most harrowing legal sagas of recent years.
Do you think Sandiford should continue serving a sentence when she returns to the U.K., or should she be freed? Please let us know your thoughts and then share this story so we can hear from others!
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