British man involved in death of Thai woman in Pattaya gets 4 year sentence for drugs in the UK

PHOTO: www.thaiexaminer.com

A British man deported from Thailand in May of this year, has been sentenced to four years and three months for drugs offences in the UK.

Reece Vella from Worcester, England, was being held in Thailand since January 2018 for his part in the death of a Thai woman who fell from his condo balcony.

His release happened under an amnesty programme, with the UK issuing a bench warrant when Vella failed to appear in court on drugs charges in October 2017.

In May, West Mercia Police brought Vella back for sentencing at Worcester Crown Court, where he admitted two counts of supplying Class A drugs.

Vella, 27, previously served with the British Army for 15 months before being medically discharged in 2011. The following year, he was sentenced to four years and nine months for rape and assault.

In January 2018, while in Pattaya, he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by negligence, when a Thai woman died after falling from his condo balcony.

Vella fled the scene, stealing the woman’s bike and phone, but was arrested the following day in a local bar.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News