A British tourist has been fined after a dispute over a 500-baht lost key card fee at a hotel in North Pattaya escalated into threats against hotel staff before he later made a false complaint to Tourist Police.
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The incident began at around 10am on 4 July 2026 at the JA Plus Hotel, located behind a driving range on Pattaya Third Road in North Pattaya, Chon Buri. Hotel staff said 27-year-old British national David John Stuart Wilden, who had checked into the hotel on 2 July, lost his room key card and was asked to pay the hotel’s standard 500-baht replacement fee.
According to Ms Ae, the hotel’s 48-year-old receptionist, Wilden refused to pay the charge before verbally abusing her and another receptionist. She also alleged that he attempted to physically attack her before leaving the hotel in anger.
During his departure, Wilden left his passport behind at the reception desk. Concerned that he might return after allegedly threatening staff, hotel manager Kanyapakthasorn Teerathanapitak later filed a complaint with Pattaya City Police on the evening of 4 July. The hotel told police the confrontation had been captured on CCTV.
The following afternoon, on 5 July 2026, Wilden went to Pattaya Tourist Police Station seeking assistance. He claimed that the hotel had confiscated his passport and asked officers to help recover it.
Tourist Police officers, who were already aware of the earlier complaint, became suspicious of his account and contacted the hotel to verify the claim. After confirming the passport had simply been left behind, they coordinated with Pattaya City Police and handed Wilden over to the investigating officer handling the case.
Pictures courtesy of SiamChon
Police later charged Wilden with threatening another person. He was fined 1,000 baht, questioned through an interpreter, and his details were recorded. After the legal process was completed, he was instructed to return to the hotel in person to collect his passport and pay the outstanding 500 baht key card replacement fee.
Hotel manager Kanyapakthasorn said the investigating officer informed her that Wilden expressed remorse and wanted to present flowers as an apology. She declined the gesture, saying she only hoped he genuinely regretted his actions and would not behave in the same way towards anyone else. She also confirmed the hotel had kept his passport safely because it was an important personal document.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now SiamChon 8 July 2026
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