A British backpacker has been arrested for stripping naked in front of other stunned tourists as they posed for a group photo while holidaying in Thailand.
Joseph William Kershaw, 23, was caught on camera by a resident of Krabi as he strolled on Ao Nang Beach with his clothes in hand before taking a snap in front of the Sailfish Sculpture.
Images show a gathering of around 20 to 30 young foreigners on the paradise beach, all cheering as Kershaw waved his genitals around – taking no notice of the horrified locals and passing motorists.
The incident occurred on April 8, after the group of tourists arrived at the location accompanied by a Thai tour guide.
Before long, Kershaw began removing his clothes in the Thai heat, all the way down to his underwear as his companions cheered at his cheeky display.
Joseph William Kershaw, 23, was caught on camera by a Thai local as he stripped down and waved his genitalia around in front of tourists and residents of Krabi
Krabi locals told Thai media his behaviour disrespected both the landmark sculpture and the community
Kershaw was arrested on April 9 and fined £110 for the ‘petty offence’
According to local reports, the Thai tour guide did not intervene.
But while his pals may have found the nude display entertaining, locals were not impressed – claiming his behaviour disrespected the landmark sculpture and the Krabi community.
The individual who filmed the incident told local TV network Channel 3 that both Thais and tourists were present at the scene, but this did not seem to faze the careless Brit.
Following multiple complaints from locals, and after seeing the footage, Krabi Immigration Police and Ao Nang Police Station managed to identify Kershaw and found that he was in Thailand on a tourist visa.
He was arrested at his hostel yesterday afternoon and frogmarched to Ao Nang Police Station where he issued a grovelling apology in a blue t-shirt and baseball cap.
Kershaw admitted to being the man in the video and claimed he stripped due to being intoxicated and overexcited.
Speaking in the video at the police station, Kershaw said: ‘I’m ashamed. I’m very sorry to all the people, I was very drunk. I appreciate that it’s not acceptable in your culture and it won’t happen again.
‘I’m very sorry… and I am thankful to you all for being helpful and very kind and I apologise. I will never do that again.’
Officers were satisfied with his apology and reassurances that he would behave.
Police said today that Kershaw had been fined 5,000 Baht (£110) for the behaviour.
Kershaw issued a grovelling apology and admitted to being intoxicated and overexcited at the time of the incident
The 23-year-old said: ‘I’m very sorry… and I am thankful to you all for being helpful and very kind and I apologise. I will never do that again.’
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wirat Inyod, head of the local immigration police, said the suspect was fined and released.
Kershaw will not have a court appearance.
The policeman said: ‘He came here with a tourist visa. He was fined because this is only considered to be a petty offence.’
Police Lieutenant Colonel Wittaya Thongkong of Ao Nang Police Station added: ‘The suspect was fined for performing such a disgraceful act in public by undressing himself, exhibiting his undressed person or committing any other act of obscenity according to Section 388 of the Thai Criminal Code.
‘The inquiry officer fined him the maximum amount of 5,000 baht.
‘As for the allegation from locals of him working illegally, we have investigated and found that the suspect, who entered legitly with a tourist visa, did not do any work.
In 2019, six tourists – three British, one Austrian, one Japanese, and one Thai native – were arrested for skinny dipping at the Ao Nang Beach.
The group, all aged between 17 and 20, allegedly admitted to being drunk at the time. They were each made to pay a 500-baht fine.
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