A British tourist, Luke Adam Lawrence, has been apprehended for purportedly raping a six-year-old girl in Thailand, following identification by UK authorities.
Luke Adam Lawrence, 30, from Leeds, West Yorkshire, was identified by investigators at the National Crime Agency (NCA) in London over a purported film depicting the assault of a schoolgirl.
Officers collaborated with local law enforcement and located Lawrence at the coastal resort of Pattaya, known as ‘Sin City,’ where he resided with a Thai girlfriend.
Armed police raided his rented residence at the Private Paradise Pattaya condominium on the morning of Tuesday, December 3.
Video footage depicts Luke Adam Lawrence exiting the bedroom without a shirt, accompanied by his partner clad in a light blue silk nightgown. A translator clad in a blue denim jacket was present, articulating the charges to the suspect.
Officers instructed Luke Adam Lawrence to kneel prior to verifying his identity. He responded with ‘huh, woah, wow’ as the accusations were announced.
The translator reads from the court arrest warrant: ‘In light of your unlawful actions, you are charged with rape and statutory rape of another individual, involving coercion through threats and the application of violent force against a person unable to resist or defend themselves.’
‘Furthermore, in relation to a minor under the age of 13 years, who is neither your spouse nor your legally recognised wife.’
The translator stated: ‘Regardless of the child’s consent, this behaviour was directed against an individual under the age of 13, rendering the minor incapable of resisting or taking action.’
Luke Adam Lawrence was then detained in connection with the purported rape of the minor, whom he allegedly knew through an acquaintance. He was forcibly escorted into a waiting police van.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Thailand released a statement confirming that the National Crime Agency (NCA) in England had identified the suspect in relation to the sexual abuse of a minor.
Authorities stated that the inquiry commenced when the NCA asserted it had linked child abuse material to Lawrence’s mobile device.
A video purportedly depicted him assaulting a young Southeast Asian girl, said to have occurred in Thailand.
The police in the UK coordinated with officers in Bangkok at the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division. The Thai police stated they examined the tape and cross-referenced it with several locations in Pattaya and social media posts to locate Luke Adam Lawrence.
They assert that the victim has been identified as a seven-year-old girl who was subjected to abuse at the age of six. They assert that Luke Adam Lawrence had associations with the mother of the purported victim.
An arrest warrant was obtained for the crime of raping a juvenile under the age of 13, and Luke Adam Lawrence was apprehended at 7:15 AM. He was restrained and transferred to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division for subsequent judicial proceedings.
UK police coordinated with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division in Bangkok to locate Lawrence.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Kiatkong Thongkham of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division stated that the suspect refuted all allegations and declined to provide testimony during the arrest. He was apprehended at the police station.
The investigating authorities subsequently notified the schoolgirl’s mother about the arrest. They purportedly submitted proof, and she lodged more complaints to be incorporated into the charge sheet.
The CIB stated that local women should ‘exercise caution’ over foreign men visiting the country in search of a girlfriend.
They stated: ‘This serves as a caution to Thai women pursuing foreign partners via various online platforms, to remain vigilant regarding the perils of paedophilia, a psychological disease characterised by a sexual attraction to prepubescent youngsters.’
It is crucial to recognise and safeguard against threats posed by individuals exhibiting such behaviour.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.