UDON THANI – A 44-year-old British national apologized to a gas station attendant whom he had punched two days ago as he was too drunk.
An incident occurred on the morning of May 22, at a PTT gas station on Udon Dutsadee Road, Mak Khaeng Subdistrict, Udon Thani City, in which a foreign man in a drunken state punched a gas station attendant twice on the right cheek, causing swelling.
This happened when the employee was refueling a customer’s vehicle 2024. The police have since located the foreign man responsible for the incident.
On May 24, Pol. Col. Phattanawong Chanphon, head of Udon Thani City Police Station, invited 44-year-old British national Davis, the suspect, and 25-year-old victim Jirawat Sunthon, or “Tum,” and 38-year-old gas station cashier Pranee, or “Mimi,” to the investigation room as witnesses for mediation. Tum’s parents and Mr. Davis’ 18-year-old daughter, May, were also present.
Mr. Davis explained that he was a former mercenary from the United Kingdom and had moved to Thailand 22 years ago to start a family and had an 18-year-old daughter with his Thai wife. He admitted to acting irrationally due to personal and family problems and regularly taking sleeping pills or tranquilizers.
Before the incident, he had run errands with his daughter in Udon Thani city and drank 40-degree white wine at a Bun Bang Fai festival in Phen district.
“I do not normally drink alcohol, but I could not resist the locals who are related to my daughter and my wife. They helped me with the farming and housework, so I drank several rounds before driving my daughter into town. On the way back, I stopped at the gas station to fill up. I lost control and was unaware of what was happening. I regret my actions and apologize to the victim and all Thai people. I am prepared to pay all medical expenses and compensation,” Davis said.
Mr. Davis then raised his hands to apologize to Tum, and knelt to apologize to Tum’s parents. Tum and his parents forgave him but demanded compensation for the medical expenses and moral damage and urged Mr. Davis not to repeat such behavior to others, respect the law and abide by Thailand’s cultural values. They acknowledged that Mr. Davis’ daughter was also of Thai descent and born in Thailand, but wanted the police to take legal action.
Mr. Davis promised not to repeat such behavior as he feared the revocation of his visa, which would prevent him from seeing his family in Thailand. He agreed to fully compensate the victim.
Pol. Col. Phattanawong discovered Mr. Davis’ address from the vehicle registration number and coordinated with the Udon Thani Immigration and Tourist Police to issue a summons. Mr. Davis was charged with “assault and causing public nuisance”,” which carries a fine.
The Udon Thani Immigration Department documented Mr. Davis’ criminal record, as this was his first offense. Given his previous assistance to the Immigration Department on Koh Samui and his remorse, he was warned that any further misconduct could result in the revocation of his visa and a ban from re-entering Thailand.
Related article: Drunk Foreigner Punches Gas Station Attendant in Udon Thani
