PATTAYA, Thailand – A 40-year-old British man has been arrested in Pattaya after allegedly throwing a chemical substance at a female apartment caretaker, leaving her seriously injured, before claiming he acted in self-defense and mistook the liquid for bathroom cleaner. The incident occurred on June 23 at a residential building in Soi Arunothai 2, Central Pattaya, where the caretaker, a 43-year-old Thai woman, suffered severe chemical burns to her face and body after being attacked with a corrosive substance.
Witnesses said the foreign suspect had been walking door-to-door inside the apartment building, knocking on multiple rooms while searching for a Thai woman he claimed to be in a relationship with. He was reportedly asked to leave by staff after causing a disturbance. However, shortly afterwards, he allegedly returned and confronted the caretaker, leading to the attack in front of residents. The victim was rushed to hospital in serious condition.
Following the incident, police and reporters located the suspect nearby in Soi Chalerm Phrakiat 19, where he was seen arguing with a Thai woman at a roadside restaurant. Officers later detained him for questioning and identified him as Mr. Richard, 40, a British national. During questioning, the suspect claimed he was searching for his Thai girlfriend and her friend, alleging they had taken his passport. He said he went to the apartment building because he believed they had stayed there previously.
He further claimed the caretaker had attempted to attack him with a machete, and that he picked up a nearby glass containing liquid and threw it in self-defense, insisting he did not know it was acid and believed it was bathroom cleaning fluid. A Thai woman identified as Ms. Supranee, 38, told police she had been in a relationship with the suspect for around five months but said he had a history of aggressive and erratic behavior, including damaging property and causing disturbances. She also confirmed that his passport had gone missing and was later recovered and kept by her for safekeeping, which later led to further disputes.
Police later confirmed that the suspect had overstayed his visa since February 2026. He is now facing charges for illegal stay in Thailand, while investigators are preparing additional charges related to the attack. The injured caretaker remains under treatment at Chonburi Hospital. Police are continuing the investigation and coordinating with the victim’s family to proceed with legal action.
