A drunk British backpacker has been arrested for flashing in front of tourists in Thailand.

Joseph William Kershaw, 23, was seen stripping off before waving his genitals in front of a group of young holidaymakers as they posed for pictures in Krabi, southern Thailand, on April 8.

The holidaymaker is seen in a video of the incident cupping his crotch, unfazed by passing motorists and horrified locals standing on the other side of the road. He bent down and then walked around briefly before getting dressed again.

However, the obscene behaviour on the idyllic Ao Nang Beach -also popular among families with young children - sparked anger from residents who complained to the police.

Joseph was arrested at his hostel on Tuesday afternoon and frogmarched to the station where he made a grovelling apology in a blue t-shirt and blue baseball cap.

He admitted to being the man in the video and claimed he stripped due to being intoxicated and overexcited.

Speaking in the video at the police station, Kershaw said: 'Im ashamed. I'm very sorry to all the people, I was very drunk. I appreciate that it's not acceptable in your culture and it won't happen again.

'I'm very sorry... and I am thankful to you all for being helpful and very kind and I apologise. I will never do that again.'

Officers were satisfied with Joseph's apology and reassurances that he would behave.

Police said today that Joseph had been fined 5,000 Baht (110 GBP) for the behaviour.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wirat Inyod, head of the local immigration police, said the suspect was fined and released. He will not have a court appearance.

The policeman said: 'I can confirm the suspect's name and age as Joseph William Kershaw. He is 23 years old and from Great Britain.

'He came here with a tourist visa. He was fined because this is only considered to be a petty offence.'

Police Lieutenant Colonel Wittaya Thongkong of Ao Nang Police Station added: 'The suspect was fined for performing such a disgraceful act in public by undressing himself, exhibiting his undressed person or committing any other act of obscenity according to Section 388 of the Thai Criminal Code.

'The inquiry officer fined him the maximum amount of 5,000 baht.

'As for the allegation from locals of him working illegally, we have investigated and found that the suspect, who entered legitly with a tourist visa, did not do any work.

In 2019, six tourists - three British, one Austrian, one Japanese, and one Thai native - were arrested for skinny dipping at the Ao Nang Beach.

The group, all aged between 17 and 20, allegedly admitted to being drunk at the time. They were each made to pay a 500-baht fine.