Jake Mastroianni, 26, an Australian DJ known in the night clubs and strip bars of Thailand’s Pattaya by his stage name DJ Badmouth, was arrested with Englishman Lance Whitmore in the tourist city of Pattaya in 2014 and received a double life sentence. That sentence was upheld on appeal in a Bangkok court on Wednesday (7th September).

Mastroianni was a nightclub king who travelled the globe and had beautiful women on his arm. He had travelled the world to DJ. He’d been to China, Spain and Thailand. He was successful, had beautiful girlfriends and also performed at many of Australia’s best clubs. But it all came crashing down while he was in Thailand in 2014. He was arrested at the Thai seaside resort of Pattaya for being in possession of about 60 ecstasy pills, alongside Briton Lance Whitmore who was charged with carrying 200 pills. Mastroianni was punished with two life sentences and this week he lost an appeal to have that sentence reduced.

Having narcotics in Thailand is a serious crime, especially since the Thai government declared a “war on drugs” in 2003. The possession of category one drugs, like ecstasy, LSD and heroin, for the purpose of disposal, carries a death penalty.

Prisoners who receive a life sentence must serve eight years before being eligible for a transfer, but Mastroianni has already served two, meaning he must wait six years before becoming eligible for a return to Australia.