British man’s Thailand trip goes from heaven to prison hell (video)

[Kinok Farang]

This sort of thing never seems to happen to all the other fatties ( Americans) in Pattaya.

[wensiensheng]

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Don't believe anything you read in the Daily Mail!

That is for sure. My nephew died while on holiday overseas ( not Thailand) and the reporting of the incident by the UK press, Daily Mail included, bore no relation to the actual truth whatsoever.

[Older and Wiser]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Pictures courtesy of the Daily Mail

 

by Bob Scott 

A British man ventured to Thailand anticipating nothing more than a peaceful, sun-drenched escape, yet, his dream holiday rapidly descended into a nightmare after a seemingly trivial mishap spiralled into a chain of catastrophic events.

 

Arrested, assaulted, and stripped of his belongings, Andrew Hopkins’ tale unfolds as a chilling reminder for would-be travellers drawn to the Land of Smiles.

It all began on an unassuming night in Pattaya. The 55 year old man decided to take a leisurely evening stroll from his Airbnb, unaware that this decision would turn his trip upside down.

 

As he meandered through his neighbourhood, fate took an unfortunate terrible twist when he accidentally walked into a neighbour’s entrance sign.

“At 21st 8lbs (137 kilos), it was inevitable I’d cause a bit of damage but little did I know the storm it would provoke.”

 

Almost immediately, the sounds of anger pierced the night as two security guards revealed themselves, shouting furiously in Thai.

 

Despite his heartfelt apologies and an offer to compensate for the damage, their rage was unquenchable, said Hopkins. Within minutes, the scene escalated further when local police arrived, and the British man found himself forcibly thrown into the back of a pickup truck.

 

Locked up in a cell for the next 36 hours, Hopkins’ bewilderment turned to fear.

 

“They threw me into jail, with an English guy inside advising me to comply, and eventually, they’d set me free.”

 

It was only after an Italian stranger arrived, instructing him to withdraw 15,000 baht (£360) as a fine, that Hopkins’ release was negotiated, reported the Daily Mail.

 

Once out, the British man’s relief was short-lived. On returning to his Airbnb, he encountered a hostile reception from the host’s wife, who was furiously waving his room key.

“They’d cancelled my booking and insisted I leave immediately.”

 

Pictures courtesy of the Daily Mail

Desperate to gather his belongings, Hopkins asked for a brief reprieve to collect his things. Hesitantly, they agreed.

 

Inside the apartment, a strange chemical odour greeted him.

 

“It seemed like they’d tried to drug me.”

 

His suitcase was filled haphazardly, and most alarmingly, considerable cash and valuables had vanished. His Cooperative Bank debit card, MBNA credit card, phone chargers, and a hidden stash of £1,230 (51,600 baht) in cash, all missing.

 

Hopkins confronted the woman, only to face accusations about smoking on the balcony.

 

“There was an ashtray there. I even had a video to prove it.”

 

 

Things escalated further when the police made a swift return. This time, the encounter turned even more brutal.

 

“They attacked me, handcuffed me to a pickup, and dragged me back to jail.”

 

Hopkins left with his arm bound to the cell bars, he endured unspeakable indignities.

 

“I had to urinate over myself. Lying there in my own fluids, I was stripped of any dignity.”

 

Frustrated and helpless, Hopkins resorted to singing songs like “Country Roads,” “God Save the King,” and “Half the World Away” to get someone’s attention.

 

Eventually, the officers released him but his troubles were far from over. His Thai mobile, a Galaxy s21, was missing, along with more cash.

 

Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

 

Worse, fraudulent charges of £450 cropped up on his debit card but the bank refused to help.

“They wouldn’t even check the CCTV from the 7-Eleven.”

 

Adding insult to injury, the £480 cash stash was gone, along with his beloved trainers and flipflops, leaving him barefoot and bewildered. As a small consolation, he was handed £120 in cash and left to fend for himself.

 

Back in the UK, Hopkins struggled with the aftermath, revealing ongoing physical pain, infections, and PTSD.

 

“I ended up booking a business-class flight home with Emirates for £1,800 because I simply couldn’t sit properly.”

 

Now, Hopkins is embroiled in battles with Airbnb insurers and his travel insurance, while the UK Home Office has taken his plight to the Thai authorities.

 

Sharing his experience as a warning, Andrew noted: “Tourists in Thailand have zero rights, and are seen as easy targets.”

 

“They call it the Land of Smiles but that fades once the bills stop being paid. If you ever find yourself in a situation over there, keep your cool, stay quiet, and never, under any circumstances, question their authority.”

 

What should have been a blissful escape became a stark lesson in caution and cultural understanding. Hopkins’ story is a poignant reminder that paradise can quickly turn perilous.

 

Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-02-03

 

 

Who would carry that amount of cash around with them in Thailand? What are debit cards for? Anyway, seeing other comments; there are two guys, two sets of circumstances, one set of photos.

[CFCol]

2 hours ago, hotsun said:

Seems like this guy had some bad luck. Still though, anybody that comes here should realize that its a third world country and life is more random

Something doesn't lie right here. The British home office should have no involvement in this, it would be down to the British Foreign ad Commonwealth office.

[John Drake]

Stay sober. Stay polite. Stay cool. Stay away from shady people and places, especially at night. And your chances of a bad encounter are infinitesimal. 

[Scouse123]

That is what I consider, that the man had a bloody unfortunate encounter and a bad day.

 

It's lousy sometimes, without a friend in sight to assist and a load of people wanting their pound of flesh.

[Scouse123]

6 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Stay sober. Stay polite. Stay cool. Stay away from shady people and places, especially at night. And your chances of a bad encounter are infinitesimal. 

 

I agree with that.

 

Protect yourself at all times.

[thespecialist6]

2 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

There has to be more to this story!🙄

Sounds one sided I don't believe the story , instead of confronting the woman why he did not go straight to the police and they would've investigated , think he is a trouble causer

 

[NickyLouie]

Lovely Chap that one , think he was eating at RobbinHood b4 all this kicked off.

 

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It all began on an unassuming night in Pattaya. The 55 year old man decided to take a leisurely evening stroll from his Airbnb, unaware that this decision would turn his trip upside down.

 

As he meandered through his neighbourhood, fate took an unfortunate terrible twist when he accidentally walked into a neighbour’s entrance sign.

 

   I do not believe that at all . If people would tell the truth , then I would have more sympathy for their flight , but when they lie, I just don't believe anything at all

[dougieboy]

1 hour ago, Andycoops said:

Appears no locked safe in the room either, as that would have made his valuables hardy to get at, if indeed the story isn't a Jackanory...

Just a word of warning to anyone who thinks safes in hotel rooms are actually secure, if you forget the number you set when you locked it, virtually any staff member knows the procedure to open it. 
Therefore this knowledge is only as safe as the integrity of anyone who has worked in a hotel (and their friends)

My advise, either give your valuables to the hotel manager to put in his safe or use a safety deposit box if available. 
Or try not to have too large an amount of cash or gold. 
safe travels everyone 

[Nick Carter icp]

6 minutes ago, NickyLouie said:

Lovely Chap that one , think he was eating at RobbinHood b4 all this kicked off.

 

 

   Has Bob Smith posted recently ?

[goldenbrwn1]

1 hour ago, Coxy said:

The land of smiles eh !!!!!!

sadly this is becoming more common these days and will hurt the tourist industry which Thailand desperately needs just now.

These days ? 😂 This type of thing was rife years ago and you heard stories like these all the time . Now with smart phones and instant internet access I’m sure we’d hear far more stories of this kind of behaviour, if it had continued to the extent it once did .

[Beerzy65]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Pictures courtesy of the Daily Mail

 

by Bob Scott 

A British man ventured to Thailand anticipating nothing more than a peaceful, sun-drenched escape, yet, his dream holiday rapidly descended into a nightmare after a seemingly trivial mishap spiralled into a chain of catastrophic events.

 

Arrested, assaulted, and stripped of his belongings, Andrew Hopkins’ tale unfolds as a chilling reminder for would-be travellers drawn to the Land of Smiles.

It all began on an unassuming night in Pattaya. The 55 year old man decided to take a leisurely evening stroll from his Airbnb, unaware that this decision would turn his trip upside down.

 

As he meandered through his neighbourhood, fate took an unfortunate terrible twist when he accidentally walked into a neighbour’s entrance sign.

“At 21st 8lbs (137 kilos), it was inevitable I’d cause a bit of damage but little did I know the storm it would provoke.”

 

Almost immediately, the sounds of anger pierced the night as two security guards revealed themselves, shouting furiously in Thai.

 

Despite his heartfelt apologies and an offer to compensate for the damage, their rage was unquenchable, said Hopkins. Within minutes, the scene escalated further when local police arrived, and the British man found himself forcibly thrown into the back of a pickup truck.

 

Locked up in a cell for the next 36 hours, Hopkins’ bewilderment turned to fear.

 

“They threw me into jail, with an English guy inside advising me to comply, and eventually, they’d set me free.”

 

It was only after an Italian stranger arrived, instructing him to withdraw 15,000 baht (£360) as a fine, that Hopkins’ release was negotiated, reported the Daily Mail.

 

Once out, the British man’s relief was short-lived. On returning to his Airbnb, he encountered a hostile reception from the host’s wife, who was furiously waving his room key.

“They’d cancelled my booking and insisted I leave immediately.”

 

Pictures courtesy of the Daily Mail

Desperate to gather his belongings, Hopkins asked for a brief reprieve to collect his things. Hesitantly, they agreed.

 

Inside the apartment, a strange chemical odour greeted him.

 

“It seemed like they’d tried to drug me.”

 

His suitcase was filled haphazardly, and most alarmingly, considerable cash and valuables had vanished. His Cooperative Bank debit card, MBNA credit card, phone chargers, and a hidden stash of £1,230 (51,600 baht) in cash, all missing.

 

Hopkins confronted the woman, only to face accusations about smoking on the balcony.

 

“There was an ashtray there. I even had a video to prove it.”

 

 

Things escalated further when the police made a swift return. This time, the encounter turned even more brutal.

 

“They attacked me, handcuffed me to a pickup, and dragged me back to jail.”

 

Hopkins left with his arm bound to the cell bars, he endured unspeakable indignities.

 

“I had to urinate over myself. Lying there in my own fluids, I was stripped of any dignity.”

 

Frustrated and helpless, Hopkins resorted to singing songs like “Country Roads,” “God Save the King,” and “Half the World Away” to get someone’s attention.

 

Eventually, the officers released him but his troubles were far from over. His Thai mobile, a Galaxy s21, was missing, along with more cash.

 

Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

 

Worse, fraudulent charges of £450 cropped up on his debit card but the bank refused to help.

“They wouldn’t even check the CCTV from the 7-Eleven.”

 

Adding insult to injury, the £480 cash stash was gone, along with his beloved trainers and flipflops, leaving him barefoot and bewildered. As a small consolation, he was handed £120 in cash and left to fend for himself.

 

Back in the UK, Hopkins struggled with the aftermath, revealing ongoing physical pain, infections, and PTSD.

 

“I ended up booking a business-class flight home with Emirates for £1,800 because I simply couldn’t sit properly.”

 

Now, Hopkins is embroiled in battles with Airbnb insurers and his travel insurance, while the UK Home Office has taken his plight to the Thai authorities.

 

Sharing his experience as a warning, Andrew noted: “Tourists in Thailand have zero rights, and are seen as easy targets.”

 

“They call it the Land of Smiles but that fades once the bills stop being paid. If you ever find yourself in a situation over there, keep your cool, stay quiet, and never, under any circumstances, question their authority.”

 

What should have been a blissful escape became a stark lesson in caution and cultural understanding. Hopkins’ story is a poignant reminder that paradise can quickly turn perilous.

 

Pictures courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-02-03

 

 

Great he didn't take drugs or drink before thid

[Toby1947]

Flew home business, any big fat <deleted> like him should be made to fly business or pay for 2 seats economy. 22 st can you imagine being sat next to that fat <deleted> in economy 😡🤬

[Cabradelmar]

One sided reporting, as usual. There is more to the story than meets the eye.

[pomchop]

More holes in this story than a block of swiss cheese. 

[daejung]

So strange.

How can it be ?

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Don't believe anything you read in the Daily Mail!

Wondering how long it will take the Thai media to respond

[kingstonkid]

1 hour ago, Older and Wiser said:

Who would carry that amount of cash around with them in Thailand? What are debit cards for? Anyway, seeing other comments; there are two guys, two sets of circumstances, one set of photos.

 

Debit cards are useless unless youkow the pin

 

Credit card copanies are quick to shut off cards

 

Airbnb will not protect a renter

 

Thai police are bad but not that bad

 

What kind of sign was it that a fat guy could damage it completely

[it is what it is]

3 hours ago, hotsun said:

Seems like this guy had some bad luck. Still though, anybody that comes here should realize that its a third world country and life is more random

 

[it is what it is]

3 hours ago, hotsun said:

Seems like this guy had some bad luck. Still though, anybody that comes here should realize that its a third world country and life is more random

 

sorry to pop your thai bashing bubble, but thailand is not a third world country - check the definition for yourself. thailand has an upper-middle income economy having made significant progress in economic and social development over the past few decades

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, bkk_mike said:

Locked safe in a hotel room (or Airbnb) can be reset and opened by the owners.

It protects your belongings from "guests" or the cleaning staff.

It wouldn't protect them from the people that have the user manual and know how to reset the safe when a guest forgets the combination they used.

Wouldn’t protect his valuables from anyone armed with the right tools though ……. including…. a potato !!

 

 

[Bennukbin]

“If you ever find yourself in a situation over there, keep your cool, stay quiet, and never, under any circumstances, question their authority.”

 

Although hardly believable and definitely embellished for the Daily Mail readers the quote above from the story could be an indication of how a seemingly innocent blunder could escalate to the level described. 
 

I imagine that the apology came much later in the sequence of events and a lot of self righteous, foul mouthed profanity and belligerence preceded it. Insulting or causing a Thai person to loose face will generate an incomprehensible reaction. 

[connda]

What's the other side of the story or stories.  Most accidents can be solved by keeping your cool and negotiating. 

[cardinalblue]

Most bothersome is someone police or property owner went thru his things and stole items/cash…

 

that is the biggest crime in this story…I hope his story spreads like air pollution in this country 

[connda]

And I'm sure that those bathroom pictures are meant to shock the Western public.  However, you can find the same conditions in almost any old style hong-naam throughout Thailand.  Oh, by the way, I have worse memories of the ship's "heads" aboard US navel vessels.  Just saying.....

[PingRoundTheWorld]

3 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Certainly not saying he is lying

He is clearly lying. Either this is completely made up, or there is a lot more to the story that he's leaving out. Very likely "evening stroll' means drunk off his *** walking around being a nuisance. People don't normally walk into signs, more likely he deliberately hit it, causing damage. Thais don't normally refuse compensation when offered on the spot - more likely he refused to compensate and was rude about it. Police don't normally haul you off to jail if you can compensate unless you're being difficult and uncooperative. Airbnb hosts don't normally kick you out or rob you for no reason. Police don't normally arrest you again after you paid the fine and was released. So much is missing and makes no sense here that it wouldn't be a wonder if completely made up - not to mention the same photos used in multiple incidents.

[khunPer]

The photos are from a former Daily Mail story published January 20th at ASEAN NOW...

 

[Thumbs]

Nothing will come of it unless the press and media get involved and run his story, then panic begins to set in with the police higher ups about their potential involvement in the drama and then other similar stories start popping up, when the bosses are moved to inactive posts their is not additional money to be made and promotion might never happen