A woman has walked free from jail after serving only seven years of a 25-year jail term for heroin smuggling. Sandra Gregory was released from Cookham Wood Prison in Rochester, Kent, on Friday following a royal pardon from the King of Thailand.

The 35-year-old was caught with 86.9 grams of heroin inside a condom in her body at Bangkok airport in 1993.

She was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in Bangkok but was repatriated to the UK in 1997.

The move was part of the UK-Thai Prisoners Transfer Agreement following visits to the country by the Queen and UK Foreign Secretary.

The release follows a pardon from Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Gregory, originally from Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, was met at the prison gates by her mother, Doreen.

"It is absolutely marvellous," she said.

"I only found out yesterday when my mother told me. I was not expecting it at all and am humbled by it.

"I think more than anybody I would like to thank my parents for everything they have done. They have been great," she added.

Gregory said she accepted full responsibility for what she did.

"I still think Thailand is a marvellous country," she added.

Shock

She said she was still in shock and she did not have firm plans for her future.

"There are things I would like to do but my choices are limited.

"I cannot travel abroad and going for a job now will be a problem. I cannot go back to teaching because I have a criminal record.

"I would like to do something with drug rehabilitation, there is a big demand for it. Most girls in prison have a drug problem."

Mrs Gregory, 62, said she was "over the moon" that her daughter had been released.

"The whole prison is rejoicing, from the governor to all the prison officers and prisoners, they are so happy for her."

She said she will take her daughter back to the family home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

"It will give her some peace and quiet and time to get her head together and to see her grandparents," she said.

Speaking from the family home, father Stan Gregory, 66, said he felt the large amount of support her case had received in Britain had contributed to the King of Thailand's decision.