Daylight horror on Jomtien Beach as Briton, 70, is kicked in the face and punched while USS Abraham Lincoln sailors fill Pattaya. Thai attacker, 35, blames a stolen motorcycle, then tries to flee before police chase him down and handcuff him.
A 70-year-old British man was kicked in the face and repeatedly punched on Jomtien Beach in broad daylight as thousands of US sailors and Marines filled Pattaya for the USS Abraham Lincoln visit. CCTV showed a 35-year-old Thai man cross the road, confront Anton Gilmour Wild and launch the attack before bystanders intervened. Wild was rushed to hospital with facial wounds and severe swelling. Police then challenged the attacker’s disputed claim linking Wild to a stolen motorcycle. Officers said his story was inconsistent and believed he appeared intoxicated. He then tried to flee, but police chased him down, handcuffed him and hauled him away.
A 70-year-old British man was kicked in the face and repeatedly punched during a brazen daylight attack on Jomtien Beach. The violence unfolded amid tight security surrounding the USS Abraham Lincoln visit. Thousands of US sailors and Marines were ashore across Pattaya at the time. Yet the 12.40 pm attack erupted on a busy beachfront.
Anton Gilmour Wild suffered facial wounds, bruising and severe swelling during the September 3 assault. He had been sitting with foreign friends near Jomtien Soi 10, Moo 12. CCTV showed a 35-year-old Thai man crossing the road towards the group. Moments later, Wild was on the ground after taking a kick directly to his face.
The Thai man first approached Wild and briefly spoke with him. However, the conversation quickly gave way to violence. He kicked Wild squarely in the face, knocking the elderly British man down. The attacker then punched him repeatedly as Wild lay on the ground. Finally, bystanders rushed in and stopped the assault.
Police and rescuers treat injured Briton as attacker claims row was over a supposedly stolen motorcycle
Police and rescue workers were immediately called to the scene. In response, officers from Pattaya City Police Station raced to the beachfront. Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation rescue workers also arrived. They found Wild suffering from visible facial wounds and pronounced swelling.
Rescue workers gave the injured Briton first aid at the scene. Afterwards, they transported him to hospital for further treatment. Initial reports described wounds, bruising and significant swelling around his face. There was no indication that his injuries were life-threatening.
Meanwhile, police identified the 35-year-old Thai man as Wild’s attacker. He remained nearby when officers began questioning him. Almost immediately, he offered an explanation involving a supposedly stolen motorcycle. He claimed Wild was somehow involved in its theft.
More strikingly, the attacker claimed he had found evidence on Wild linking him with the motorcycle. He said that discovery prompted him to pursue the British man. According to his account, he followed Wild to Jomtien Beach and confronted him there. Police, however, were far from convinced.
Police doubt attacker’s story before failed escape ends with the 35-year-old handcuffed on Jomtien Beach
Officers described the Thai man’s answers as incoherent or inconsistent. In addition, police believed he appeared intoxicated. The man also tried to conceal his face from reporters covering the incident. He refused to allow journalists to photograph him.
Then the confrontation took another dramatic turn.
While police controlled the scene, the 35-year-old tried to make a run for it. Officers immediately gave chase and quickly caught him. They restrained the suspect before snapping handcuffs onto him. A patrol vehicle was then called to remove him from the beachfront.
At the same time, tempers were running high among Wild’s friends. One furious friend shouted at the handcuffed attacker. As a result, officers moved between the two sides and kept them apart. Police prevented the confrontation from developing into another clash.
Investigators then began piecing together exactly what had happened. Crucially, CCTV footage and witness accounts captured the physical sequence surrounding the assault. Wild had been sitting beside Jomtien Beach with several foreign friends. The Thai man was initially across the road.
CCTV shows attacker cross road, confront Wild and kick the 70-year-old Briton directly in the face
Next, footage showed the 35-year-old crossing towards Wild and his companions. He walked directly towards the British man and engaged him in conversation. The exchange was brief. Shortly afterwards, the Thai man launched the attack.
The kick landed directly on Wild’s face. Its force knocked the 70-year-old onto the ground. The attacker followed with repeated punches. Bystanders then intervened and brought the violence to an end.
Notably, the available account describes no lengthy fight before the kick. Instead, witnesses and CCTV showed a brief conversation followed by the attack. People nearby then stepped forward and stopped it. Police and rescue workers were alerted shortly afterwards.
The CCTV therefore gave investigators important evidence about the assault itself. Witnesses could also describe what they had seen. Separately, police still faced the attacker’s disputed explanation for why he confronted Wild.
Police find no reported evidence linking injured British man to the attacker’s motorcycle theft claim
His story centred on the supposedly stolen motorcycle. The Thai man insisted Wild was connected with its disappearance. Police later dismissed the claims. First came the violent assault captured on CCTV and witnessed by people nearby.
The suspect’s behaviour also complicated the scene. Police believed he appeared intoxicated while they questioned him. His answers were described as confused or inconsistent. Additionally, he tried to shield his face from journalists before attempting to flee.
His escape bid failed quickly. Officers caught the 35-year-old, restrained him and placed him in handcuffs. Subsequently, a patrol vehicle transported him to Pattaya City Police Station. Investigators there continued questioning him about the assault and motorcycle claim.
Jomtien attack unfolds amid tight security as thousands of US sailors enjoy shore leave across Pattaya
The attack came during an extraordinary few days for Pattaya. The USS Abraham Lincoln was visiting Thailand with nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard. Large numbers of American servicemen were enjoying shore leave across the resort. Other US warships were also calling at Chonburi ports.
As part of this, Thai officials mounted a major security operation across coastal Chonburi. Police, military personnel and other teams were deployed around Pattaya. Patrols covered roads, entertainment districts and areas frequented by visiting American personnel. Security operations also accompanied movements between the US ships and Pattaya.
Against that backdrop, the attack happened shortly after midday. The victim was British and had no reported connection with the visiting US forces. There was also no reported link between the assault and the carrier visit. Even so, it unfolded while heightened security was operating across Pattaya.
In parallel, thousands of American sailors were moving through the resort during shore leave. The carrier visit had brought a major influx of foreign military personnel. Police resources had consequently been strengthened across the area. Still, Wild was attacked in broad daylight beside Jomtien Beach.
CCTV captures brutal kick and punches while police test attacker’s disputed motorcycle theft account
The sequence captured on CCTV was stark. Wild sat talking with friends while the Thai man remained across the road. The 35-year-old then crossed towards them and approached Wild. After a brief exchange, he kicked the Briton directly in the face.
Wild crashed to the ground. The Thai man then continued with repeated punches. Nearby bystanders stepped in before the assault continued further. Rescue workers subsequently treated Wild before taking him to hospital.
On another front, police were testing the suspect’s account against the available evidence. His entire explanation for the confrontation centred on the missing motorcycle. Yet officers were openly sceptical during the initial questioning. They also considered his answers inconsistent.
The supposed evidence found on Wild remained unidentified. No details emerged showing what the attacker claimed to have discovered. Moreover, the reports did not establish Wild as a suspect in any motorcycle theft.
Police use CCTV and witness evidence as failed escape ends with attacker taken to Pattaya police station
By contrast, police had CCTV and eyewitness evidence concerning the violence. The footage showed the Thai man crossing the road and approaching Wild. It then captured the kick which knocked the 70-year-old down. Witnesses also described the punches which followed.
Afterwards, the 35-year-old’s attempted escape added another scene to the confrontation. He ran while officers were controlling the situation. Police pursued and caught him before he could get away. He was then handcuffed as Wild’s angry friends remained nearby.
Officers had to control both sides before removing the attacker. Soon afterwards, he was transported to Pattaya City Police Station. There, investigators began the fuller questioning process.
The attack itself occurred at approximately 12.40 pm on Thursday, September 3. Its location was near Jomtien Soi 10 in Moo 12, Pattaya City. Wild was 70 years old and a British national. The Thai attacker was 35.
Wild’s reported injuries were concentrated around his face. They included wounds, bruising and pronounced swelling. Rescue workers treated him immediately before taking him to hospital. However, the initial reports did not identify the hospital.
They also did not provide a detailed medical diagnosis. There was no report indicating life-threatening injuries. Nonetheless, the force of the initial kick was sufficient to knock Wild onto the ground.
Police continue probing assault and disputed motorcycle story after witnesses describe Jomtien attack
From there, the attacker continued punching him until other people intervened. The incident therefore had several witnesses in addition to CCTV coverage. Those accounts were handed to police as they investigated the case.
Nothing, according to police sources, established the claims as true. Instead, they remained part of the attacker’s excuse for the violent assault to police. Officers had already signalled doubts about his account at the scene.
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Ultimately, the 35-year-old was taken into custody and handed to Pattaya City Police investigators. Police were reviewing CCTV, questioning witnesses and examining his statements. They were also investigating the claimed motorcycle theft before determining further legal action.
The inquiry therefore remained centred on two questions. Police had the recorded attack on the 70-year-old British man. They also had the attacker’s disputed explanation for launching the confrontation.
For Wild, the encounter ended in hospital with facial injuries and heavy swelling. For the 35-year-old Thai man, it ended in handcuffs at Pattaya City Police Station. The investigation continued as Pattaya remained under heightened security for the major US Navy visit.
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Further reading:
Pot shop worker attacks UK man on his motorbike over 29,200 baht fraud on Monday in broad daylight
Senior Bangkok police officer charged with armed robbery of Pathum Thani cannabis shop this week
