This is the shocking moment a drunk American tourist attacked barmaids over his high drinks bill in Thailand.

Kevin Michael Woodford took his girlfriend for a night out at the 'Farang Bar' in the notorious nightlife spot Pattaya in the early hours of April 7.

However, he went on a rampage and refused to pay when two bar staff handed him his drinks tab of around 1,000 baht (22 GBP).

Claiming he was being overcharged, the burly American appeared to verbally assault barmaid Warunee Yodphromwaen, 39, while his timid partner looked on.

When the bar manager Anchisa Thongpheuak, 55, tried to explain, the towering man lunged at her, allegedly thrashing her around before dragging both staff by the hair toward the street outside.

Another CCTV clip shows Anchisa confronting Kevin in front of a convenience store while she was heading to the police station to file a report.

The American shoved her off a motorcycles and attacked her once again before bystanders intervened.

Police later arrived and detained Kevin on charges of being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting someone causing mental or physical harm.

Anchisa said: 'This foreigner is a very dangerous person. His girlfriend said that he doesn't listen to anyone when he becomes drunk.

'I would like the authorities to check if this foreigner has done any other crimes of this nature. As for myself and the staff in the shop, we insist on filing legal charges.'

She said that Kevin worked as an engineer for a major petrol company. He allegedly introduced himself as a German national when he first visited the bar.

Kevin has reportedly offered a one million baht (21,700 GBP) settlement, but the staff said they were determined to proceed with litigation.

Bar maid Warunee said she was worried about the handling of the case, as police were allegedly pressuring them to accept the settlement.

Police Colonel Nawin Theerapong, superintendent of the Pattaya Police Station, said: 'We assure the public that the investigation conducted by Police Major Colonel Thanya Udtong is thorough and fair. The case is now being processed according to legal proceedings.'

Former fishing village Pattaya became popular with American troops on 'rest and relaxation' breaks in the 1960s when the U.S. military had bases in Thailand. In the ensuing years, the coastal resort grew into a nightlife resort known for its massage parlours, gogo bars and sex workers.

Embarrassed officials have made progress in gentrifying the region with family tourism projects but a ravenous nightlife industry and corrupt police have hampered their efforts, with undesirables from all nations still attracted to the seedy city.