Pattaya City News - Latest News Story

At 9.30pm on Friday, a call was received by Police Lieutenant Colonel Sirichai from Pattaya Police Station from Khun Rachanee aged 33 who informed Police that a foreign man, who she had met on the Walking Street, had just stolen her gold bracelet and some money from a Hotel room near the Street where the pair had gone to engage in sexual activities. Police arrived and arrested Mr. Benjamin Gardner aged 27 from England. He was caught in a nearby public toilet where he was attempting to hide from Police. Upon his arrest he informed Police that he had placed the bracelet and the victim’s purse in a small hole in the roof of the Toilet Block. The suspected thief along with the victim who was only wearing a towel, were taken to Pattaya Police Station. Mr. Gardner confirmed that he resides at the Niran Grand Condo in Soi Arunothai, Central Pattaya with his pregnant girlfriend. He has been traveling around Asia and has now run out of money and decided to steal the bracelet along with 500 Baht in cash from Khun Rachanee to begin to replenish his funds. Mr. Gardner who possessed a passport valid for only 1 year confessed to officers that he is on the run from authorities in UK and is wanted on a number of charges including assault, robbery and failing to appear in Court. He has been replacing his passport on a number of occasions to avoid detection by the UK authorities. Mr. Gardner is now on remand awaiting a court appearance and the UK Embassy in Bangkok are also involved in the case. For now he will face charges of theft and visa irregularities here in Thailand with the possibility of facing deportation because of outstanding arrest warrants in UK.