William “Billy Boy” Eastment, an 80-year-old retired mechanic from Milborne Port, Somerset, is finally poised to return home after Chilean prosecutors closed the case accusing him of drug trafficking. The pensioner, who spent almost 12 months imprisoned in Santiago’s harsh Santiago 1 Penitentiary, was arrested last year after authorities found methamphetamine worth around £200,000 hidden in his luggage at the airport.
Eastment has maintained that he was deceived by scammers who tricked him into carrying the drugs unknowingly. His lawyers have now successfully argued for the termination of legal proceedings on compassionate grounds due to his significantly deteriorating health. During his detention, Eastment suffered pneumonia multiple times and struggled with pre-existing conditions, making prison life increasingly hazardous.
Initially granted house arrest because of his poor health, Eastment was confined to a modest home in the southern outskirts of Santiago with regular police visits. However, the legal process remained unresolved until recently, as his defense team pushed for a swift conclusion to avoid the strain of a prolonged trial given his age and medical vulnerability.
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Despite his imminent release, concerns linger over Eastment’s ability to endure the lengthy 14-hour flight back to the UK, which he must arrange and finance independently. His health and fragile condition have cast uncertainty over the journey home. Complicating matters further, Eastment was ineligible for Chile’s national health system due to his tourist visa status and faced difficulties finding a family member to act as a financial guarantor for his medical expenses abroad.
Neighbours and friends in Eastment’s quiet Somerset community remain shocked by the accusations against him, recalling a man better known for fishing and playing bowls than any involvement in crime. With legal challenges behind him and the case officially closed, William Eastment now faces the next chapter: returning to the UK to rebuild his life after this ordeal.