This is the dramatic moment a pump attendant chased a motorcycle rider speeding away from a fuel station allegedly without paying.

CCTV footage shows the worker, Kesanee Wongngam, 29, grabbing the helmet-wearing motorist by the collar as he tried to flee the PT Gas Station in Roi Et, Thailand, on May 14.

Kesanee was dragged across the ground as the driver and his white-green Honda Scoopy motorcycle also toppled over.

However, the man still managed to escape after threatening her with a gun.

Police Major Dechawat Chaiyaphum of the Suwannaphum Police Station said officers were notified at 3:20 pm.

Authorities nabbed the suspect - a local who lived two miles away from the station - using ID cards in the wallet he had dropped while scuffling with Kesanee.

Kesanee said: 'The man asked me to fill his tank with 400 baht of fuel. After I did so, he pretended to open his pouch to get some money while making small talk. When he saw that I was distracted, he tried to escape. I fell to the floor while grabbing his shirt collar.'

Kesanee added that she snatched the man's wallet hoping he would pay his fuel bill. However, he allegedly threatened her with a gun and raided the cash register before making off with 6,000 THB (130 GBP) in cash.

Police said the driver's wallet contained two IDs, neither of which belonged to him. They called the owners and learned that the IDs belonged to the man's stepfather and girlfriend, who pointed his whereabouts to the police.

Police Major Dechawat said: 'The suspect admitted that he had intended to refuel without paying because he had no money. He claimed that he only planned to drive away immediately after filling up.

'However, he saw the money inside the cash register when the staff opened it, and also decided to snatch the banknotes inside.

'He also admitted to threatening the worker with a gun, but said he was only bluffing and owned no firearms. He will be charged with theft.'

Meanwhile, Kesanee said she was relieved the man had been caught as the stolen money would have been deducted from her paycheck.