Police have arrested a 47-year-old British national in Chiang Mai who was wanted on theft charges and for overstaying his visa, authorities said. The suspect, identified only as Mr. James, was detained at a property on Kamphaeng Din Road in Hai Ya Subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Mai District.

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Officials said the arrest was carried out by officers from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD), Subdivision 4, under the supervision of senior commanders. Authorities confirmed Mr. James was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court on February 10, 2026.

According to police, the warrant relates to a case involving alleged joint theft using a vehicle. Investigators also accused the suspect of remaining in Thailand after his permission to stay had expired.

Police said the investigation followed cooperation between ATPD Subdivision 4, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and non-governmental organisations working under The Scientia Program. The joint effort focused on monitoring a Kik user suspected of involvement in distributing illegal sexual content involving children.

Authorities said intelligence suggested the user was living in Thailand. Further investigation reportedly linked the account to Mr. James. Officers also confirmed that the suspect matched the individual named in the Chiang Mai court warrant and was suspected of immigration violations.

Police later traced Mr. James to a building on Kamphaeng Din Road and obtained a search warrant from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court. When officers arrived at the property, the door was not immediately opened and police called for anyone inside to come out.

A woman eventually opened the door and confirmed that the foreign national officers were seeking was staying there. She then led officers to a room on the third floor of the building.

Police asked the occupant to identify himself and Mr. James came out and confirmed he was staying in the room. Officers showed him both the search warrant and the arrest warrant before informing him of the allegations and placing him under arrest.

Authorities said several items were seized during the search as evidence, including a mobile phone that allegedly contained obscene files. Investigators also reported that digital, obscene material was discovered at the property during the search.

Mr. James and the seized evidence were later transferred to investigators at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station for further legal proceedings. Police said the case remains under investigation.

As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to examine the digital evidence seized during the search and determine whether additional charges may be filed. Officials have not released further details about the case at this stage.

Pictures courtesy of CIB

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Adapted by ASEAN Now CIB 13 Mar 2026

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The Brits are really knocking them out of the park!

Ran out of "Handsome Man" t-shirts?

Attractive, lucky #7. I beg to differ on both assertions. Just another bald delusional middle aged falang. A real loser.

They walk among us

A sicko that should be fined, jailed and deported for crimes against children. No use for him.

21 minutes ago, jcmj said:

A sicko that should be fined, jailed and deported for crimes against children. No use for him.

Agreed, but is it alleged that he committed crimes against children?

There are probably more people like this guy hiding in Thailand

Who need to be found and suffer the consequences of doing bad jail Deportation comes to mind

52 minutes ago, jcmj said:

A sicko that should be fined, jailed and deported for crimes against children. No use for him.

My views entirely- let him spend a long time in Thai jail- and ensure the other prisoners know why he is inside

Then at the end of a long sentence deport- and mark his passport so trips anywhere abroad are not possible

An evil cunning piece of scum

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

They walk among us

And regardless of nationality as well.

Yes, I agree - yet another 'Brit'

But in my time here, 20 years, I have seen many others of a whole variety of different nationalities hauled up for similar reasons.

There's trash everywhere - good to see it being discovered and dealt with.

Awesome, another evil pervert has met his destiny! Hey, Mr. James. Tea-time in Thailand is over. Now you get to meet the boys who know how to treat scum in the prison shower room.

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Agreed, but is it alleged that he committed crimes against children?

You know what he meant. The distribution of child porn is a crime against anyone whose image is thus circulated. Capisce? Duh.

36 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Now you get to meet the boys who know how to treat scum in the prison shower

You seem pretty well-informed, so how do they get treated in Thai prison showers...have you ever been there?

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You seem pretty well-informed, so how do they get treated in Thai prison showers...have you ever been there?

No, I haven´t. Are you going to post that comment to everyone that mention such conditions, or am I singled out?

The Brits are way ahead this year left the Russians in the dust.

Has been awfully quiet around the Ruskis.

Probably keeping a low profile, lest they be send to the southern front.

I think the shine has worn off his penny. Steal while you're on overstay.

Police can be overzealous when they think it's kiddieporn. And what is Kik???

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Agreed, but is it alleged that he committed crimes against children?

If he has video on his phone containing sexual content with a minor then yes, he is guilty of an offense.

Wow! More "high quality' Western tourists, who "apparently" spend a lot more than Asians (which is a complete load of .....) - so many posters here deride the Asians, but rarely do those engage in such crimes

Thanks to such je**ks, the immigration rules get more and more tough and as usual, it's mainly the decent one's who will get harassed.

Mister James, you have been a very naughty man.

8 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You seem pretty well-informed, so how do they get treated in Thai prison showers...have you ever been there?

No, I haven´t. Are you going to post that comment to everyone that mention such conditions, or am I singled out?

No, don't flatter yourself, I'm not singling you out. I'll make my comments to anybody I choose who makes inaccurate assertions about those situations.

10 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Awesome, another evil pervert has met his destiny! Hey, Mr. James. Tea-time in Thailand is over. Now you get to meet the boys who know how to treat scum in the prison shower room.

Unless things have changed, they don't have shower rooms except in the prison hospital in Bangkok.

They have huge water tanks out in the open, and it's a giant communal area. For sluicing / showering.

Off topic troll post removed @Keeenok Powell

On 3/13/2026 at 5:16 PM, SingAPorn said:

Thanks to such je**ks, the immigration rules get more and more tough and as usual, it's mainly the decent one's who will get harassed.

How have immigration rules for the "decent ones" who comply with the regulations got "more and more tough"?

On 3/13/2026 at 9:40 PM, Scouse123 said:

Unless things have changed, they don't have shower rooms except in the prison hospital in Bangkok.

They have huge water tanks out in the open, and it's a giant communal area. For sluicing / showering.

Agreed...and showers have to be taken whilst wearing underwear in Klong Prem.