In 1993, Wheeler, then 33 and a martial arts enthusiast, arrived in Thailand hoping to start anew. What he found, however, was a nightmare straight out of a horror story. He had dreams of opening a restaurant but lacked the necessary funds. Desperate, he agreed to smuggle four pounds of heroin—worth over £1 million (42 million baht)—into the country in exchange for just £10,000 (420,000 baht).
His plan fell apart at a Bangkok airport, where he was arrested and sent to the notorious Bangkwang Central Prison. Facing a terrifying 50-year sentence and the looming threat of the death penalty, Wheeler found himself trapped in one of the country’s most feared prisons, where the possibility of execution—by being shot in the back five times—was a very real fear.
Now 64, Wheeler has written about his experiences, working with co-writer Nick Ford on The Tiger Cage. After spending 18 grueling years in prison, he was released following an amnesty marking the Queen of Thailand’s 80th birthday. Wheeler returned to the UK, reunited with his family, and took a job in asbestos removal. But the memories of his darkest times remain vivid.
“There was a moment when I hit rock bottom after being locked in a pitch-black cell for four and a half months. I resorted to coating my body in toothpaste just to open blisters and secure a hospital bed for some sleep. I once threw toilet water on a guard, expecting a beating, but instead, they tossed me back into my cell,” he recalled.
Despite the hardships, Wheeler’s release marked a bittersweet freedom. “The day I learned I might be shot in the back, I felt the colour drain from my face. My confession from the outset saved me from death row. Yet, missing the chance to reconnect with my grandmother before her passing is one of my deepest regrets.”
Now back in the UK, Wheeler is reunited with his daughter, who was just a toddler when he was imprisoned. His story is one of resilience and redemption. For those interested in learning more about his extraordinary journey, The Tiger Cage is now available on Amazon and other retailers.
“Over two years, Nick and I met numerous times, spent hours on the phone, and exchanged countless texts. That’s why my voice and emotion resonate so clearly in this story,” Wheeler said of his collaboration with Ford.
Picture of Johnathan Wheeler Daily Echo
