MMA champion from Hampshire surrendered quietly when approached by Thai police officers who had tracked him down.
A 43-year-old UK man wanted for the attempted murder of a teenager that left the victim paralysed in the UK was arrested by Thai police in Pattaya on Thursday.
Thai police have announced the successful capture of a UK man wanted in his home country for the attempted murder of a teenager in February of this year.
The media was briefed on Thursday by Lieutenant General Sompong Chingduang, the Commissioner of Thailand’s Immigration Bureau. The search and arrest of the man came after the UK authorities requested Thailand’s help on the matter.
43 year old is an MMA champion from Hampshire
The man has been named as 43-year-old Glen Bailey who is reportedly a champion Mixed Martial Arts fighter from Hampshire in the southern region of the UK. He has been wanted by police there since a 17-year teenager was shot on February 10th last and left paralysed from the waist down. Bailey is the principal suspect in the case.
Bailey entered Thailand in early April from Cambodia
Thai police discovered that he entered Thailand from Cambodia at Chanthaburi province on April 3rd. He indicated to an immigration official at the border crossing that he was on his way to Pattaya. He was issued with a tourist visa which expired on May 2nd.
Police put surveillance on gym and health centres
Police tracking the UK man suspected that as an MMA champion, he would be likely to attend a gym or physical fitness facility so all such establishments were checked by police. On Thursday, police found their man at the Q Sauna on Jomtien Sai 2 road in tambon Nong Prue on the outskirts of the resort city.
Did not resist arrest when officers approached him
The senior Thai police officer told a media briefing the same day that the man did not resist arresting officers who approached him and took him into custody.
Police later checked a room that he was renting nearby on Phra Tamnak Road road. There, they found his passport showing his expired visa.
Held at Pattaya police station pending deportation proceedings and extradition to the UK
He was taken to Pattaya City police station where he has been charged with overstaying his visa. It is understood the police are now awaiting moves from the UK authorities so that proceedings can commence to deport him back to the UK. This normally involves liaising with the Thai Attorney General’s Office and prisoners are often transported to prison in Bangkok in advance to facilitate extradition from Thailand.