A British woman allegedly raped in Thailand had her shorts cut off with scissors, according to reports.
The 21-year-old backpacker was enjoying a holiday on an island in the south of the country with friends when she was allegedly attacked by a local man.
The group had been celebrating Bid to bring ill Scot Rebekah Fulton home from Thailand hit by further delays New Year but when they were unable to return to their hostel in the early hours of the morning the victim fell asleep outside a restaurant. She was then allegedly pounced upon.
The incident happened around 3am on Monday.
According to the Daily Mirror local man Trairat Changsanan was arrested two days later in connection with the attack.
Police say that he has confessed to raping the tourist.
The deck-hand was taken in handcuffs to the rape scene in Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of Krabi, where he pointed to the spot where the assault happened.
Bid to bring ill Scot Rebekah Fulton home from Thailand hit by further delays
He allegedly told police he was walking home after drinking and saw the sleeping woman and decided to assault her.
Her denim shorts were cut off with scissors while she was unconscious.
Cameras outside the restaurant captured the crime and others in the area showed Changsanan acting suspiciously. Police Colonel Krissana Patanacharoen said: “He has been taken to Krabi Provincial Police and is currently under police custody.”
Changsanan faces charges of rape and violent threatening behaviour against a person who was in a state of inability to resist.
Officers “expressed their condolences” to the alleged victim and slammed the suspect for “damaging the image of tourism in the country”. The attack is said to have happened during Thailand’s Songkran New Year celebrations. Traditionally, streets are closed to traffic and are used as arenas for water fights.
The festival has become a focus for partying and drinking for tourists
Earlier this month German backpacker Miriam Beelte was raped and murdered on the island of Koh Si Chang.
And in September last year, a British tourist, aged 18, claimed she was drugged , stripped, robbed and raped on Sairee Beach in Koh Tao.
