A British man was arrested in Phuket, Thailand, after he violently attacked a local shopkeeper and a teenage boy. The incident, which happened early Friday morning (April 4) in the Chalong area, was caught on CCTV and quickly spread online, drawing strong public criticism.
Man Damages Vehicle and Starts Fight
According to Daily Mail, the man, George Paterson, aged 40, is from Glasgow, Scotland. He was first seen on CCTV damaging a parked motorcycle outside a local store. Soon after, he tried to tear off the seat of the bike. As a result, the store owner, Warin Dokbua, aged 51, confronted him.
However, instead of stopping, Paterson began punching Warin multiple times. Then, he picked up two glass bottles and threw them at the shopkeeper. Warin later said, “He appeared to be intoxicated or under the influence of some substance. He wouldn’t listen when I tried to stop him, and he physically attacked me, even throwing a bottle of oil at me from the front of the store.”
Violence Escalates
Meanwhile, a woman arrived at the scene on a scooter with her three children, including a baby. CCTV footage reportedly showed Paterson striking the teenage boy and throwing him to the ground. Furthermore, he pushed the woman and her two daughters off the scooter, adding to the chaos.
Police Intervene and Arrest the Suspect
Soon after the attacks, police found Paterson nearby and arrested him. However, officers said he was extremely aggressive and could not be questioned right away. Currently, he remains in police custody while the investigation continues.
Expat Offers Positive View of Life in Thailand
Interestingly, this violent event contrasts sharply with the peaceful lives of other British citizens in Thailand. For example, Claudia, a UK-born content creator who moved to Koh Samui in 2023, often shares her happy experiences online.
In a TikTok video with over 68,000 views, she said, “The biggest reason is the lifestyle… in the UK you get maybe two months of good weather a year if you are lucky… but here I’m surrounded by successful open-minded people… who are actually excited about life.”
Moreover, she praised the lower cost of living, the warm climate, and the strong sense of community in Thailand, all of which made her feel confident and productive.