Police have arrested the ex-boyfriend of a bar worker who was stabbed to death over money she owed him.

Wacharapol Ansongkram, 39, told police he leant 30,000 Baht (700 GBP) to Rattana Tammarak, 32, when she her life spiraled out-of-control from working in a bar serving tourists to selling her body and drug addition in Pattaya, Thailand.

However, when she was unable to pay back the cash he stabbed her repeatedly with a knife during a struggle inside her apartment on May 16.

Shocked neighbours found the young woman's body and police launched a manhunt for Wacharapol who was the last person seen on CCTV visiting her in the early hours of the morning.

Officers arrested him on when they detected his mobile phone signal in Kalasin province around 370 miles away on May 23. He was tracked down to a wooden house in neighbouring Sakon Nakhon province.

Officers said Wacharapol was 'visibly stressed' during the arrest.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Thananon Atiphansi, deputy superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station, said the killer was driven back to the station for further interrogation.

The policeman said: 'The suspect has confessed. He killed the victim. He will be prosecuted according to the law.

'His motive for the crime was related to a debt issue amounting to 30,000 baht. He had ordered the victim to return the money but when she could not do that, he killed her.'

Rattana's family said she had worked in a bar in the seedy tourist resort dubbed 'Sin City' but where she slept with holidaymakers but later became involved with drugs and lost her job. She continued prostituting herself to fund her habit - inviting semi-barbarous local men back at all hours of the night.

Wacharapol was identified from CCTV after he was seen arriving at her room at 4am then leaving at 9am on May 16. She was found dead on May 20.

The alleged killer has now been taken to the the local station in Pattaya where he allegedly confessed to killing the sex worker. Officers said that when he was arrested, he appeared visibly stressed and had wounds on his hand, from broken glass shards and bites.

In the short interview, Wacharapol reportedly apologised to Rattana's family, stating that he did not have any intention to murder her and that his actions were driven by anger.

The alleged killer said that he attacked the bar worker then fled to Sakon Nakhon with the assistance of his relatives.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Thananon said: 'The victim tried to avoid talking about the debt and the killer said became increasingly agitated. He forcefully covered her mouth and gripped her neck.'

Police said that during the struggle, Wacharapol was bitten by Rattana, and in a fit of rage, he smashed a large photo frame. He claimed that Rattana tried to stab him with the broken glass shard and he fought her off and stabbed her three to four times in the neck and shoulder before fleeing the scene.

Thananon stated that Wacharapol confessed to having a past relationship with Rattana, although it became less serious.

They occasionally met and she asked him to borrow money, leading to the confrontation.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Thananon added: 'Police will conduct a thorough investigation and provide further updates.'