Why British grandmother has spent last 11 years awaiting execution on death row in Indonesian prison

A British grandmother has spent the last 11 years awaiting execution on death row in an Indonesian prison.

Lindsay Sandiford has been held behind bars there since 2013 after trying to smuggle £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali from Bangkok, Thailand, in her suitcase.

Kerobokan prison is known as one of the toughest jails in the world and over her decade of being there, the Cheltenham woman has earned the nickname of ‘grandmother’ from her fellow inmates.

Sandiford has apparently taught her fellow prisoners to knit and apparently she even gets the odd special treat like medium-rare steak dinners, the Daily Mail reports.

But of course, none of that changes the fact she’s spent the last 11 years or so awaiting her death at the prison.

While she was found guilty back in 2012 and sentenced to death by a firing squad a few months later, Indonesia doesn’t regularly carry out executions. In fact, there hasn’t been an execution there now for over six years.

And it seems there might be fresh hope she may not be executed at all.

Apparently, a new law coming into effect in January could see her death sentence change into a life term. This would be thanks to her managing more than 10 years of good behaviour behind bars.

Then, with that, Sandiford’s lawyers could attempt to argue for her return to the UK, where she might be able to be released based on the time she’s already served over in Indonesia.

An inmate of the gran told the Mirror: “There is hope that she can go home.

“If she can get through to 2025 then she thinks she may be able to avoid the death penalty.”

Plus, in a little boost to her dark situation, British officials recently stepped up visits to see Sandiford from four times a year to once a month.

Human rights barrister, Felicity Gerry KC, who visited the woman in 2015 has issued a fresh call for her return.

“Indonesia is taking an important step in recognising the need to commute the sentences of those subject to the death penalty, especially women” Gerry said.

"Lindsay co-operated with the authorities and explained levels of coercion that should have at least mitigated her position.

“The Government should be taking active steps to ­facilitate her return to the UK, either to serve a sentence near her family or to consider her release.”