Odd behaviour from someone who obviously works out daily which has to mean adhering to a regime to get in shape .

Either he's someone who doesn't drink very much and shouldn't or his muscles are helped and he spends his days at gym to try and look hard .

3 hours ago, TedG said:

There should be a tattoo limitation.

There should be a compulsory one....on the forehead...branded <deleted>.

Would he be able to go into bars without a shirt? And if I were the bolt driver, no way would he get on the back of my motorcycle without a shirt.

On 1/1/2026 at 7:18 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

red flag, for sure

I have a house on the eastern side of Bangkok and a condo in Pattaya. If you were to compare the 2 areas you wuld swear that they are 2 different countries. I first hit Pattaya in the year 2000, it was such a fun place, everything was cheap, plenty of birds, extra cheap booze and very friendly people. Never seen any fighting, I made friends from several different countries. I believe Pattaya changed to the place it is today after COVID. The Government is mainly to blame letting any trash holiday here as long as they're cashed up and they start bitching because they lacked control of the trash that THEY let into the country.

On 1/1/2026 at 3:47 AM, Georgealbert said:

Pictures courtesy of Daily News

A British tourist has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a Bolt motorcycle taxi rider in Pattaya, leaving the driver injured and requiring medical treatment. The incident occurred at 03:35 on 31 December in front of Walking Street, South Pattaya and prompted an emergency response from rescue workers and police.

According to authorities, the injured rider was identified as Mr Phumin Prommanok, aged 26, who works as a Bolt rider. He suffered a torn wound under his lower lip and was treated with first aid at the scene before being taken for further care, while the suspect was taken into police custody.

The incident was reported to the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Rescue Radio Centre. Rescue workers coordinated with officers from Pattaya City Police Station before attending the scene on Walking Street in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

At the scene, officers detained the suspect, later identified as Mr Joseph Stephen Sweeney, aged 35, a British national. Both the suspect and the injured rider were subsequently taken to Pattaya City Police Station for questioning to establish the full circumstances of the incident.

Mr Phumin told police that the suspect had booked his service through the Bolt application. He said he declined the ride after the passenger insisted on paying by credit card, which he could not accept and claimed he apologised repeatedly to the passenger.

Despite the apologies, Mr Phumin stated that the passenger became angry and suddenly punched him in the face several times. The blows caused a deep cut beneath his lip, resulting in visible bleeding and pain. After the assault, the suspect reportedly attempted to flee the area on foot. Bystanders nearby intervened and managed to restrain him until police arrived, preventing his escape.

Police officers and municipal special affairs officials confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody at the scene. Investigators questioned both parties to determine the appropriate legal charges based on the evidence and witness statements.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about disputes between drivers and passengers over payment methods, particularly in busy tourist areas during peak holiday periods. Police have reiterated that all incidents of violence will be handled according to the law.

Daily News reported that authorities said further legal proceedings will follow once the investigation is complete, and the suspect remains under police control as officers compile their case.

Key Takeaways

• A British tourist was arrested after allegedly assaulting a Bolt rider in Pattaya on 31 December.

• The rider suffered a torn lip after refusing a credit card payment requested by the passenger.

• Police are investigating and will proceed with legal action following questioning.

Related Stories

Foreign-suspect-at-large-after-attacking-Bangkok-Bolt-rider

French-man-brutally-attacked-by-thai-Bolt-driver-in-Pattaya

 Adapted by Asean Now from Dailynews 2026-01-01

 

he beat him up because thedriver did not accept creditcard... what did he think? that local drivers do creditcards as well? such a fool, his behaviour despicable and no shirt!

Brits acting like colonizers again lol. Once drunk, the master mentality comes out in a hurry. And look at all of them coming out to support the guy, like it's ok just because it's 3 am and he's drunk off his a*s.

I suspect probably as dumb as he looks. Expecting to pay a probable 30b fare with a credit card, then getting pissed off when someone justifiably requires cash for such a small amount.

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

I'm from Burnley. It's too cold to have no shirt there.

Up the Clarets.

2 hours ago, Khun Loong said:

I suspect probably as dumb as he looks. Expecting to pay a probable 30b fare with a credit card, then getting pissed off when someone justifiably requires cash for such a small amount.

Probably the credit card wan't even genuine.

On 1/1/2026 at 7:54 AM, atpeace said:

Not wearing a shirt and being extremely fit is a bad look with the exception of Songran. It makes you an easy target for a society that is generally very fat. Most wish they had his body but flaunting it is kind of pathetic.

What about not wearing a shirt while running? I now wear one all the time because others just don't understand the benefits of not wearing a shirt for heavy sweaters like myself.

What?

You wear heavy sweaters while you run?

In this heat?

You must be joking.

On 1/1/2026 at 10:20 AM, connda said:

Perp: "But but but - I was told that Thailand embraces a "cashless society."

If you have a Thai bank account. Sorry farang. Foreign credit cards not accepted.

Doesn't one book with Bolt through an app wherein a rider indicates method of payment, ie., cash, credit card?

On 1/1/2026 at 3:47 AM, Georgealbert said:

the suspect had booked his service through the Bolt application. He said he declined the ride after the passenger insisted on paying by credit card, which he could not accept

Unless the suspect tried to use a different credit card than indicated in the app, the app charges the credit card automatically prior to pickup.

More needs to be known about the suspects booking.

On 1/1/2026 at 11:03 AM, Eff1n2ret said:

Doesn't Bolt operate the same way as Grab

No. Grab offers more options for payment.

He was lucky that there weren't a bunch of fellow Wins around to gang up on him, and beat the cr_p out of him.

Troll post removed.

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On 1/1/2026 at 10:07 AM, PoorSucker said:

Check out Norse Atlantic, cheaper than Bangkok-Samui

It's tempting, pricewise and flight timing - even the premium economy - no biz class. But a 12-14 journey on a no-frills airline is a tough call.

What happens to all these foreigners who assault people in Pattaya - seems like it's almost nighly? Do they just pay a fine and get released? Wouldn't they be locally jailed, then deported?

Few weeks thai jail would do him good.

On 1/1/2026 at 12:16 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

Button-down Oxford-Cloth, should be mandatory.

Pinpoint-Oxford, preferred, though.

I saw one of these, not the shirt, just yesterday, jogging.

His pecs were a-jiggling.

Just not right for any occasion, in Thailand.

Yet.

Airfare is cheap these days.

Anyone who can afford a bus ticket can afford to come here...

And show off his muscles.

I am moving FAR AWAY from any tourist areas.

I will need about 25 kilometers distance, before I begin to feel safe, once more.

Air fare is not cheap since covid

On 1/1/2026 at 2:44 PM, Jingthing said:

Note that in the wake of this incident there will be no calls for banning all British people from booking Bolt rides or from entering Thailand at all.

True dat.

After the assault, the suspect reportedly attempted to flee the area on foot. Bystanders nearby intervened and managed to restrain him until police arrived, preventing his escape

This is my favorite part of the story. I like this aspect of Thailand.

On 1/1/2026 at 10:44 AM, Jingthing said:

Note that in the wake of this incident there will be no calls for banning all British people from booking Bolt rides or from entering Thailand at all.

Why would there be ???...

Should Gay Americans be banned from entering Thailand because of this https://aseannow.com/topic/1013538-tourists-warned-to-respect-thai-culture-two-who-showed-their-butts-at-wat-arun-arrested/ ??????

3 hours ago, Kevbo said:

Air fare is not cheap since covid

I think maybe: The shirtless lowlifes have nothing good to do, even in their home countries. And so, they have tons of time to wait for two years in order to find some once-in-a-lifetime outrageously low airfare to Thailand.

Then, they pack their garbage belongings, which usually does not include shirts.

Then, they come to Thailand without ability to speak the local language. Yet, they are easily able to pick fights with locals, and outrage the sensibilities of the local populace.

Finally, they go way overboard, such as hitting someone in the head, or knifing someone. And, finally, they are carted off to jail, to stay until they are deported.

This is the life of a lowlife tourist.

20 hours ago, Brian Hud said:

This British tourist should be made to pay for the Thai person's medical bill's and then deport the tourist and ban him for 5 years, Pattaya city doesn't need thugs like him in Thailand

Yes, they got their own.

17 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

What?

You wear heavy sweaters while you run?

In this heat?

You must be joking.

No, singlets and looking sexy :) My heart rate drops a few beats if I ditch it though. Body cools down through the process of sweat drying and even the expensive running shirts don't compare to no running shirt. The part of your body with the most blood flow is wrapped in a wet insulator that doesn't efficiently allow the body to cool naturally.

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

No, singlets and looking sexy :) My heart rate drops a few beats if I ditch it though. Body cools down through the process of sweat drying and even the expensive running shirts don't compare to no running shirt. The part of your body with the most blood flow is wrapped in a wet insulator that doesn't efficiently allow the body to cool naturally.

Just find a thick forest, and go running there, clothed in whatever you like.

But, through the suburbs, and through cities, then shirts are mandatory.

It used to be this way, also, in America, before the sartorial revolution which now has people wearing pajamas to fly on garbage airlines, from coast to coast.

And, as we can plainly see, shirtlessness leads to air rage, which is so prevalent when wearing pajamas on aircraft is tolerated.

On 1/1/2026 at 12:19 AM, quake said:

Cash is king.

Nasty Brit.

No need to hit the guy. ☹️

Does anyone else believe a motorbike taxi driver has a bank account?

2 minutes ago, p414 said:

Does anyone else believe a motorbike taxi driver has a bank account?

Why not, many of the youngsters like to look cooool paying by phone QR stuff...

59 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

It used to be this way, also, in America, before the sartorial revolution which now has people wearing pajamas to fly on garbage airlines, from coast to coast.

United provides passengers with pajamas when flying from Singapore to SF in business class.

Will have to pay the Bolt rider settlement in cash only, and where are the tattoos

On 1/1/2026 at 8:15 AM, scubascuba3 said:

No shirt, a red flag, avoid such people

Young Brits