A Polish tourist was arrested for slapping a woman on the bottom in Thailand - claiming he 'does it all the time at bars'.

The suspect, Piotr, 31, was seen on CCTV allegedly groping the Thai woman, identified by police only as 'Miss A', at a convenience store in Bangkok, on December 21.

Footage shows the backpacker walking into the store and smacking Miss A's backside. The startled woman swung around but could only stare at the holidaymaker in shock as he walked away.

Miss A said she filed a police report because she felt humiliated by the alleged harassment.

She said: 'At first, I thought it was just a friend pranking me. But when I turned around, it was a foreign man I had never met before.

'His actions made me feel humiliated because the other customers and staff were looking at me. I walked out of the store in shame.'

Officers from the Thung Maha Mek station summoned Piotr to resolve the case by making an apology, but he reportedly refused to appear at the station.

He instead told his accommodation agent: 'I didn't hit her hard and I've done this many times when I went to entertainment venues.

'No one has ever said anything to me, and I don't think I did anything wrong. I don't believe I broke any laws. Besides, I'll be flying back to my country soon.'

The Pole's 'remorseless' response and 1970s mindset prompted Miss A to pursue legal action. Officers then went the strong-arm route and raided his hotel room.

The Metropolitan Police obtained an arrest warrant and detained Piotr on January 14. He was charged with 'committing obscenity against a person above the age of 15'.

Police Major General Teeradej Thamsuthee, commander of the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said: 'Thailand is a tourist city that welcomes foreigners from all over the world. However, when they are in Thailand, they need to respect regulations, traditions, cultures, and laws so that Thai people and tourists can live together in peace.

‘The suspect's actions are considered a form of sexual harassment, which is illegal and carries a sentence of up to ten years in jail. It does not matter what nationality the suspect is. If they commit a crime in Thailand, they will be punished under Thai law.'

The offence carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both, under section 278 of the Thai Criminal Code.

Police have also urged other potential victims of Piotr to lodge a complaint.

The Thai government implemented a visa-free scheme to boost revenue from the tourism sector, which accounts for more than 20 per cent of GDP. But the policy has also seen a surge in crime.

Bars, massage parlors and strip clubs remain a big draw for tourists, despite the authorities refusing turning a Nelsonian eye to their debauched - and often criminal - activities.