Pattaya, Thailand: British tourists filmed in violent street brawl with Thai sex workers

A chaotic Pattaya street incident involving British tourists and Thai sex workers has come to light as authorities respond.

Madeline Cove
The Nightly
Footage of man throwing sex worker to the ground has surfaced online.
Footage of man throwing sex worker to the ground has surfaced online. Credit: Supplied

Warning: Distressing content

A violent confrontation between British tourists and Thai sex workers has been captured on video in Pattaya, after the visitors accused the women of stealing money from their accommodation.

The incident reportedly began after the group brought the sex workers back to their villa in the coastal city, often dubbed Thailand’s “Sin City,” before an argument erupted over missing cash in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

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Video circulating online shows a man in a bright blue T-shirt confronting the women in the street, angrily accusing them of taking his holiday funds.

“Yes, you did. You tried to go to my villa, 10 bedroom, you tried to steal from me,” he can be heard saying.

“Watch these girls, I slapped them all.”

Moments later, the footage shows the man pushing one of the women to the ground. She gets back to her feet and moves toward him before another man strikes her and grabs her by the back of the neck, forcing her onto the pavement.

The altercation escalates as the woman is pulled down again by her hair. As the men attempt to walk away, the women pursue them, triggering a wider street brawl. Witness footage appears to show drinks being thrown as tensions spill over.

Both groups dispersed before the police reached the scene.

Authorities later confirmed no formal complaint had been filed and the British men involved have not been publicly identified, The Sun reported.

A local resident who witnessed the incident said the violence may have escalated after the tourists realised the sex workers were transgender.

“I felt their behaviour was outrageous. They were throwing beer at the transgender women and smashing bottles on the ground.

“No one was arrested because the police arrived after the fight.”

Pattaya remains one of Thailand’s most prominent tourist hubs, known internationally for its nightlife scene, which attracts visitors seeking bars, massage parlours and adult entertainment.

The city’s reputation has long been debated, with critics arguing it clashes with Thailand’s broader image as a family-friendly destination celebrated for its beaches, cuisine and cultural heritage.

The clash follows another reported incident in Pattaya last August involving a British tourist and a Thai bar worker. Authorities said a 66-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 39-year-old woman during an argument at a late-night venue after she declined to share a drink.

Security footage from that confrontation shows the pair grappling before the man appears to repeatedly strike the woman, leaving him with a broken arm during the altercation. Investigations into that incident were ongoing at the time.

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