An Italian man was allegedly battered to death with a steel pipe by his nextdoor neighbour following a row over bins being left outside.

Gianluca Milazzo, 55, and Thai native Phongsapat, 55, had previously come to blows over bins being left in the street, with the southern European accusing them of encroaching onto his driveway.

Phongsapat's son was jailed for assault - with his father vowing to revenge on Gianluca.

Furious Phongsapat was said to have marched over to the Italian's property holding a three-metre-long pipe, and mercilessly beat him to death in front of the residence in Passorn 2 village in Pathum Thani province on December 2.

Shocked onlooker Kanokphon Wechasamphan, 38, reported the incident to local police when he found Gianluca's body splayed out on the street.

Officers went to the scene and found the bloodied man wearing a brown shirt and grey shorts as he lay dead on the pavement. The left side of his head had caved in from the force of the blow.

Police also found the bloody pipe believed to be the murder weapon, and several blood spatters on a nearby pillar.

Kanokphon said the Italian had been living alone ever since his Thai wife had left him many years ago. The bank had also foreclosed the Italian's residence, but he had continued to live there despite utilities being cut off.

Motorcycle taxi driver Prasart Ngoenchaiphum, 42, said the suspect Phongsapat had asked to be taken to the Khlong Luang District Police Station to turn himself in.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Siraphop Bualuang, inspector at the Khlong Luang Police Station, said Phongsapat allegedly admitted to the murder.

He said: 'The suspect confessed that he was resentful seeing his son in jail and blamed the Italian man because of it. He said he and the deceased had fought over the placement of a rubbish bin, and the son intervened to stop the fight, but it was the son who ended up in prison.'

Phongsapat reportedly took revenge on Gianluca over the 'wrongful imprisonment'.

Gianluca's remains were taken to the Thammasat University Hospital for a post-mortem examination before being handed over to relatives.

Khlong Luang police said Phongsapat was detained at the police station to face criminal charges.