A British tourist was arrested for allegedly breaking into a shop to steal cannabis.

Andrew John Matthews, 23, is said to have smashed through the glass door and undid the lock at the Bud Box Pattaya cannabis dispensary in 'Sin City' Pattaya, Thailand, on February 2.

He was allegedly seen on CCTV footage raiding the store in broad daylight, ransacking a refrigerator containing packets of the controlled substance.

The high holidaymaker was said to have smoked the 10,000-baht (240 GBP) worth of cannabis before he was detained by police at the Sunday JA Plus Hotel on Thursday, February 6.

He allegedly admitted to the charges and claimed he had stolen only cannabis and nothing else.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensarn said: 'After getting the items he wanted, he went to smoke until he got high and fell asleep. When he woke up, he bought more weed to smoke, and kept changing his hotel until he was arrested by the police.

'He has been handed over to the inquiry officer of Pattaya City Police Station for further legal action.'

Shop owner Adipon Na Rerk, 35, said Andrew was a regular at his shop.

He added: 'I recognised him. He visits my store every day. At the time of the incident, the shop was closed and empty, giving him an opportunity to steal my products.'

Andrew had entered Thailand on January 22, on a 60-day visa set to expire on March 22. Police said he will be charged with 'theft by damaging a barrier for protecting a person or property'.

Under Section 335 of the Thai Criminal Code, the offense carries a maximum jail term of five years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht (2,400 GBP).

Cannabis with under 0.2 per cent of THC was decriminalised in Thailand in June 2022, as a potential cash crop for impoverished farmers. Cannabis smoking is allowed for personal use in private areas but remains prohibited in public spaces.

However, bungling officials are now seeking to outlaw recreational cannabis, blaming poorly regulated use for allegedly fuelling drug abuse and a rise in the the number of cases of tourists over-indulging in the drug.

Tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya have seen the negative consequences of legalising the drug, with tourists regularly arrested for misbehaving while under the influence of cannabis.

Last month, Russian father Artem Bugorskiy, 45, allegedly threw his son overboard on a ferry while he was high on cannabis in Phuket. The teenager was killed by the boat's propeller.

(1 GBP = 41.87 THB)