Irish tourist “bottled’ within 24 hours on Phuket

PHUKET: Patong Police are trying to identify the culprit who split open an Irishman’s head with a bottle within 24 hours of the tourist landing in Phuket.

Lt Col Jongserm Preecha told the Phuket Gazette that the incident occurred at about 1:30am yesterday.

“By the time we arrived at the scene, in front of The Pizza Company restaurant on Soi Bangla, a large crowd had already gathered. Mr Trevor Newwolm, 31, had been hit on the head with a liquor bottle by an unknown man. His attacker had already fled,” he added.

After having his head wrapped with bandages, Mr Newwolm was taken to Patong Hospital.

“We could not question him since he was really drunk when he was hit,” Col Jongserm said.

Mr Trevor arrived in Phuket on December 23 and planned to celebrate his New Year in Patong. After checking in at the Patcharin Guesthouse, he went out for dinner and drinks, the officer explained.

“We have yet to determine what might have instigated the attack. It may have been a simple argument,” Col Jongserm said.

“We are now searching for the man who hit Mr Newwolm. We believe that he lives or works in the Soi Bangla area,” he added.

— Thawit Bilabdullar