British tourist, 27, arrested over Cannabis-fuelled rampage and visa overstay in Pattaya, Thailand

A British tourist was arrested for allegedly fleeing from police in a cannabis-fuelled rampage in Thailand.

David Pittack, 27, from Carshalton, south London, was wanted for several alleged offenses including trespassing into a home and overstaying his visa.

Police found that he was allegedly hiding in 'Sin City' Pattaya after he was seen trawling one of the city's notorious strip of sex bars.

Officers quickly descended on him to make the arrest. He allegedly tried to flee but his reflexes were impeded by the cannabis he had smoked earlier.

Police said he 'spoke incoherently'. They also found marijuana - now legal in the country - in his pockets and his bag.

Police Colonel Napatpong Kositsuriyamanee, superintendent of the Chonburi Immigration Bureau, said: 'The suspect denied all charges, claiming that he did not trespass or overstay.

‘However, investigators confirmed that he was the subject of the warrant and that he had stayed in the country for more than the allowed number of days.

‘We took him to the inquiry officer of Nong Prue district police station for further legal action. He may face deportation from Thailand.'

Thailand saw a surge of neon-lit cannabis dispensaries after the substance was decriminalised in June 2022 during former army general Prayut Chan-o-cha's leadership, with impoverished farmers hoping it would become a new cash crop.

However, government officials are now furiously backpedalling amid an explosion in mental health complaints and gaudy shops that have attracted an even lower class of holidaymakers than the country's infamous sex tourists.

Officials will now outlaw recreational cannabis, blaming poorly regulated use for allegedly fuelling drug abuse and a rise in the the number of cases of tourists over-indulging in the drug.