Scottish tourist arrested after allegedly attacking teen, vandalising motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A 40 year old Scottish tourist was arrested in Phuket after allegedly attacking a teenage boy in front of his mother and a shopkeeper. George Paterson, from Glasgow, reportedly went on a rampage in the early hours of the morning on April 4, first vandalising a motorcycle outside a local store before turning violent.
CCTV footage showed Paterson attempting to rip the seat off the motorcycle, prompting an angry confrontation with Warin Dokbua, the 51 year old store owner. Paterson responded by throwing punches at Warin and then hurling two glass bottles at him, terrifying the mother of three.
The chaos escalated when a mother and her three children arrived on a motorcycle. In the footage, Paterson is seen striking the young boy, throwing him to the ground, and pushing the mother and her two young daughters off the motorcycle.
Warin immediately contacted the police, and Paterson was soon arrested in a nearby street. However, police found him to be highly agitated and too aggressive to be questioned at the time.
Warin described Paterson as possibly being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“He attacked me, and I fought back while holding my phone to record the incident. I was trying to stop him.”
The young boy who was thrown to the ground sustained only minor injuries. His mother has demanded that Paterson face prosecution for his actions.
Lieutenant Colonel Kraisorn Boonprasop from the Thalang district police stated that they believe Paterson was intoxicated or under the influence of some substance. Additionally, it was discovered that Paterson had stolen a motorcycle from another district, and he will face charges for that as well.
Police are also coordinating with Immigration Police to deport the British man. The incident has highlighted concerns over the growing impact of over-tourism in Phuket, which, after the pandemic, has seen an influx of foreign visitors due to the Thai government’s visa-free policy.
Many tourists are believed to suffer adverse effects from drugs and alcohol, which, combined with the island’s hot weather and hectic tourist lifestyle, may amplify the impact of substances, reported The Daily Record.
Doctors believe these factors, including dehydration, jet lag, and the less-restrictive environment in Phuket compared to tourists’ home countries, may contribute to tourists acting out or experiencing severe side effects.
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