A British tourist ran for his life when he was chased by a knife-wielding Thai thug - after allegedly refusing to buy him a beer.

Jake Stein Reeves, 27, from Coventry, West Mids., was drinking with his girlfriend when he was reportedly pestered by the 'aggressive' local but told him he had no money.

The Englishman's partner Nalinnara Yenjaichoey, 28, said Jake snapped after being harassed 'about 20 times' and told the man 'to go home'.

Chilling CCTV shows how the crazed local returned with around five minutes later with a knife, sparking panic as Jake fled by running for his life.

Officers later arrested unemployed Thai local Nui Rungchaemchaeng, 23, over the incident at the bar in Samut Prakan province on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday December 18.

Jake's partner Nalinnara said he was now scared to go outside following the ordeal. She said: ‘My husband had gone to the store to buy cigarettes and somebody offered to buy him a drink.

‘He sat down and drank until another man showed up and asked for a beer, but my husband did not have money. The man kept pestering Jake, so he asked him to go home out of annoyance.

‘The man left the shop, but then returned with a knife and started chasing my husband. Jake ran for almost 200 metres and even left the motorcycle at the shop.’

Nalinnara added that her partner was so rattled by the alleged attempted attack that he hasn’t walked out of their house since the incident. She filed a police report on December 19.

Shop owner Mala said: 'It is not the first time the Thai man has done this. I remember he also caused trouble two months ago.

'This foreign man visits my shop often. He is polite and well-behaved. The knife guy came to my shop and asked me where he lived, but I said I didn’t know so he left. ’

Samut Prakan provincial police said they later arrested Nui Rungchaemchaeng who confessed and apologised for the incident.

He told police: 'I apologise to the foreign man for this. I did not mean to do it.'

Colonel Termrat Jindawat, Superintendent of Samut Prakan Police Station, said: 'The Thai man was arrested at a house near the scene with a weapon, which was a 12'' long knife, used in the crime.

'We have interviewed all of the people involved in the incident and the witnesses. The accused admitted that he asked for a beer from the foreign man but was angry when he was rejected, so he went home to get a knife to attack the foreigner.

'The cause of the incident came from a misunderstanding of communication between the accused and the victim.

'The victim filed charges against the suspect on three counts. They are carrying a knife in public without justifiable reason, attempting bodily harm by using a weapon and terrifying others.

'Officers are now processing the case according to the law.'