A drunk British retiree was arrested for allegedly pulling a gun on a restaurant owner over a financial dispute in Thailand.

Stephen Anthony Cleverley, 55, reportedly stormed into the Madam Chicken cafe owned by Komkhai Tanpadung, 38, and threatened her with a firearm in Buriram province on May 3.

Komkhai claimed she was forced to close her shop because the Brit had been harassing her since last month.

She filed a complaint with the police on May 5 and submitted CCTV footage showing Stephen almost crashing his motorbike into a table with diners.

Another clip shows Stephen stomping over into the restaurant's kitchen before being stopped by Komkhai's boyfriend.

Komkhai also showed several threatening text messages she received from Stephen. One of them read: 'We won't stop. I put you in prison for a long time. One word from me, a big investigation on you, I don't care ok.

'You're f***** if I start. Yes, my friends are all top Buriram police. Don't push me ok.'

Police Lieutenant Colonel Adichart Meesa, Deputy Superintendent Investigation of the Muang Buriram Police Station, said: 'Police have summoned Ms. Khomkhai, the owner of the chicken rice shop, for further questioning.

'As for the British foreigner, investigators are coordinating with the Buriram Immigration Police to send an interpreter during the interrogation. The police officers agree to be fair to both sides.'

Stephen claimed he was driven to threaten Komkhai after she allegedly defrauded him of 90,000 THB (around 2,000 GBP) which he paid her to obtain a passport. He added that she failed to deliver the service and refused to return his documents.

Speaking in the video to an officer, Stephen was heard saying: 'I said it to scare the lady because she scammed me. I apologise for saying it, I should not have said it.'

Stephen's Thai neighbour Pin Sriyangnok, 52, said that he was 'generally a good person' but becomes loud and short-tempered when inebriated.

Meanwhile, Komkhai said she had known the British man for some time, having previously helped him in the construction of a cannabis plantation in the village. However, she said she began to distance herself from him because he 'was stubborn and a troublemaker'.

She said: 'We have reached an agreement that Stephen will refrain from entering the store or making threats against me in the future. However, I still feel paranoid that he might threaten me again.

'The store has remained closed for a long time. I am unsure if my customers will return to visit the restaurant. Still, I would like to thank the authorities for their assistance in resolving this matter.'

Police Colonel Chamras Sirileang, superintendent of Mueang Buriram Police Station, said Stephen was made to pay a fine of 5,000 THB (108 GBP).

He said: 'The Thai woman agreed to retract the complaint. No trespassing charges were filed because her restaurant is classified as a service establishment.'