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British Tourist Attacks Thai Officer, Gets Restrained

A video showing a British tourist attacking a Thai police officer inside a 7-Eleven store has surfaced online, quickly drawing attention. The footage, shared by social media user @JamesPGoddard90, depicts the British national forcing the officer to the ground and punching him, as store staff and another foreigner attempt to intervene.

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The incident was widely circulated without an official statement clarifying the cause or outcome. The altercation escalated with a store employee restraining the British man by the neck, before the officer regained control, wrestling him to the ground. The video ends amid the struggle, creating widespread speculation and concern online.

This episode highlights broader issues of foreign conduct in Thailand. Under Thai law, using force against an officer can result in severe penalties, including prison time and fines. The tourist may face charges under Sections 138 and 295 of Thailand’s Criminal Law, potentially leading to a combined sentence of up to four years and fines totaling 80,000 baht.

The online reaction has been swift, with many condemning the tourist's actions, noting such behavior tarnishes the reputation of Britons abroad. Experts note this incident could strain diplomatic relations and affect tourism, especially as Thailand welcomes international visitors post-pandemic. Calls for an official response are growing as the video continues to circulate.

Looking forward, authorities are expected to issue statements clarifying the events and any charges filed against the tourist. This incident may influence future legal and social policies regarding foreign nationals in Thailand, prompting a review of diplomatic guidance on traveler conduct, reported The Thaiger.

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image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 09 Mar 2026

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Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

Where is Pattaya mentioned in the OP?

you are absolutely right, But I simply made a comment about Pattaya which was correct , ie it does attract idiots, I never suggested this incident took place there

sqwakvfr Platinum Member

sqwakvfr

Advanced Member
45 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Of course you would except farang cannot possess firearms in Thailand. But you knew that didn't you Rambo?

I was talking "hypothetically", Terminator. Of course if defening myself from serious bodilby injury makes me "rambo" then guilty as charged. Sometimes talking it out, deescalating is like the train that has left the station.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member

i'm all for robust police action, if the moron had experienced a bit more pro active policing in the UK he might not be behaving like that , Spare the rod and spoil the child as the saying goes. It all went wrong when they banned the cane

mordothailand Silver Member

mordothailand

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, giants49 said:

The basis of journalism is the 5 W's, who, what, when, where, why. Where did this happen???

i strongly suspect a fake speeding ticket coming to roost

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member
18 hours ago, tubby johnson said:

Lock him up, fine him, deport + ban, and ship him back to the Yookay in shackles.

Is it only me thinking a lot of UK citizens are recently misbehaving in Thailand compared to other nationalities. Is UK having periods time or something?

flexomike Gold Member

flexomike

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Looks like it was bad behavior on both of their parts, obviously it's never a good idea to attack a police officer, but there's no reason for the police officer to behave like he did under the circumstances, so they both were behaving badly. I hope the press also pays attention to the inappropriate behavior of the cop.

you were not there, you don't know what was coming out of the Brits mouth, after getting taken down and punched the officer was not going to put up with any more of his crap. Kudos to the officer, punk was lucky he didn't get the crap beat out of him. You never strike an officer in uniform.

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

As a Brit myself, the behaviour of the young Brit tourists across the World is disgraceful, one of the reasons i first went to Asia over 20 years ago, was to get away from the idiots who had already ruined most of Europes holiday destinations with their drunken Cocaine fuelled antics, and it was a safe haven for many years, now the same people who ruined Europes holiday hotspots are now running riot here too, the beginning of the end is now upon us, the plague of violence and anti- social behaviour that follows the influx of these clowns will be will spread like a dark cloud over all of Thailands tourist resorts, mark my words, iv seen it first hand....

If your suggesting we should create a human pest control spray I'm all for it.

cynic1 Silver Member

cynic1

Advanced Member

Does anyone know how and why this physical altercation between the pom and cop started?

TimBKK Gold Member

TimBKK

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, chuang said:

If in USA he would be shot....

ICE? Ironically, I heard it said that most ICE officers were working in a 7 before they got a badge and gun.

JensenZ Platinum Member

JensenZ

Advanced Member
3 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Pattaya attracts low lifes, fair enough they have to go somewhere , and as a result this sort of behaviour is not uncommon, considering the number of idiots that are drunk and at large in the place at any one time, its hardly surprising that these incidents occur.

Did this happen in Pattaya, or are you assuming that and using it as an excuse to tell us how you feel about it?

Pattaya attracts all kinds of people, as does every other place.

Leopold Bloom Senior Member

Leopold Bloom

Member

British, eh?

I wonder if he's Scottish....

connda Star Member

connda

Advanced Member

Stupid Brit doesn't understand that Thais group fight. I love that. Everyone helps put Mr. Moron in a choke-hold. What an idiot. Deserves what he got.
I don't grasp the First World hubris: "We come to Thailand and we can have sex anywhere we want, drink alcohol any where we want, stiff Thai bars for the bill, drive without proper license and assault policemen. Hell, it's just a third-world ****-hole, sorta like London."

Easterneye Senior Member

Easterneye

Member

Let’s hope the turd gets fines 100k and does the full 4 years in jail , followed by deportation ans stamped up no return ever

alex8912 Gold Member

alex8912

Advanced Member
19 minutes ago, TimBKK said:

ICE? Ironically, I heard it said that most ICE officers were working in a 7 before they got a badge and gun.

Sooooo funny! Spoken from a real champ who watches CNN 24/7.

SOTIRIOS Platinum Member

SOTIRIOS

Advanced Member

...Some May Wonder...'Is It Possible That The Officer Was Out Of Line In Any Way Beforehand' (?)

Dont confuse me Silver Member

Dont confuse me

Advanced Member

Even in the unlikely event the cop provoked the situation, you gotta be out of your tree to chin him. I can imagine the retribution back at the station would have been swift and without mercy, and not one to one!

spidermike007 Star Member

spidermike007

Advanced Member
51 minutes ago, flexomike said:

you were not there, you don't know what was coming out of the Brits mouth, after getting taken down and punched the officer was not going to put up with any more of his crap. Kudos to the officer, punk was lucky he didn't get the crap beat out of him. You never strike an officer in uniform.

I agree and I didn't say that the foreigner was not at fault, though the officers behavior may have been excessive, this clown was definitely asking for it. Fighting with a law enforcement officer is never going to end well.

alexandra5 Newbie

alexandra5

Member

Whilst I agree that some of my fellow UK countrymen and women forget how to behave in other countries, I take exception to the comments that this stupid person must have been British or a Pom as if we are the only country with idiots! We're not the most popular of countries right now but for those casting aspersions take a long, hard look at where you come from.

Caldera Ruby Member

Caldera

Advanced Member

The article doesn't say where this happened, but I'd be shocked if it wasn't Pattaya. If the perp had been Russian, my bet would obviously be on Phuket. Some places just attract the worst from some countries.

Bday Prang Star Member

Bday Prang

Advanced Member
53 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

Did this happen in Pattaya, or are you assuming that and using it as an excuse to tell us how you feel about it?

Pattaya attracts all kinds of people, as does every other place.

I guess I just assumed it was Pattaya I only skipped through the OP was I wrong? does it even matter ? the location of this incident was not the point of my post ,

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Advanced Member
6 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

As a Brit myself, the behaviour of the young Brit tourists across the World is disgraceful, one of the reasons i first went to Asia over 20 years ago, was to get away from the idiots who had already ruined most of Europes holiday destinations with their drunken Cocaine fuelled antics, and it was a safe haven for many years, now the same people who ruined Europes holiday hotspots are now running riot here too, the beginning of the end is now upon us, the plague of violence and anti- social behaviour that follows the influx of these clowns will be will spread like a dark cloud over all of Thailands tourist resorts, mark my words, iv seen it first hand....

The "Benidorm Brits" are now the "ASBO generation" and they're here.

howlee101 Gold Member

howlee101

Advanced Member
22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

noting such behavior tarnishes the reputation of Britons abroad

Really? Only fighting a Thai police officer tarnishes the reputation? 🤣

ravip Star Member

ravip

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, howlee101 said:

Really? Only fighting a Thai police officer tarnishes the reputation? 🤣

I guess there is nothing left to be tarnished anymore.

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Advanced Member
5 hours ago, Bundooman said:

I strongly disagree! There was every need to do that! Re-assertion of the power of the law.

Whatever you may think - the laws of Thailand are the laws we all accept and abide by, living here as guests.

Would you conduct yourself in such a manner - anywhere in the world?

You try doing that in the USA or other countries where they would just put a bullet in you!

This arrogant British tourist still believes he is in the UK. He is not!

I hope they throw the book at him! I hope they throw the book at ANYONE who thinks it is OK to attack a police officer - regardless of where that policeman comes from.

This British guy makes me feel ashamed of the fact that a fellow countryman of mine, is yet again, demonstrating what exactly, is wrong with the UK right now.

I've been here 20 years - I have never once, thought it was OK to attempt such a disgusting display of uncouth, uneducated and arrogant stupidity.

I care not if you disagree with me; he deserves a heavy fine - a year in prison and then deported - at his financial expense! Irrespective of the reason this came about!

Another lout who brings shame to all of us British subjects living in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter.

Despite my broad agreement to what you say and suggest regarding appropriate punishment for the crime, the RTP caveat still applies. This is evidenced by the two New Zealander brothers mentioned earlier, entitled with family money, quietly dropping off the media radar some time after assaulting a Phuket traffic cop including threatening the cop with his own weapon.

NanLaew Star Member

NanLaew

Advanced Member
4 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Remains to be seen what this was all about, however the Brit is Lucky to be alive. Attacking police in Thailand normally brings the guns out immediately.

No. No it doesn't. The RTP are world class experts in the de-escalation of potentially violent situations. So much so, their first response is typically not to show up at all.

Spock Silver Member

Spock

Advanced Member
7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

What a utterly atrocious thing to say about someone who maybe facing mental difficulties in life just as you are .

What a load of rubbish! The guy is a total <deleted>. Why you would even begin to defend his actions is beyond belief. Jail him!

Spock Silver Member

Spock

Advanced Member
1 hour ago, SOTIRIOS said:

...Some May Wonder...'Is It Possible That The Officer Was Out Of Line In Any Way Beforehand' (?)

If that was the case, would the 7/11 staff have been so keen to help subdue him?

pacovl46 Platinum Member

pacovl46

Advanced Member

Let him rot in prison for the full 4 years and if he can’t pay the fine add another year on top! That’s the only type of language clowns like him understand!

Spock Silver Member

Spock

Advanced Member
2 hours ago, JensenZ said:

Did this happen in Pattaya, or are you assuming that and using it as an excuse to tell us how you feel about it?

Pattaya attracts all kinds of people, as does every other place.

More likely Patong.

lamyai3 Gold Member

lamyai3

Advanced Member

A bit difficult to follow as the dog was barking in Thai. But here's the gist of it:

"Collar him! Drag him to the pound and chew up his passport! Bite the b@stard!"

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