A British tourist who was attacked by angry locals for allegedly crashing into a female motorcyclist while he was pulling a wheelie has been named by police.

Brandon James Solmes, 22, was reportedly seen performing the stunt on a rented scooter along a road in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, on Thursday night.

He continued riding with one wheel in the air before allegedly slamming into Jurairat Petchraksa, 49, in the Soi Bong Koch 8 area. The impact flung both riders away from each other, leaving Jurairat seriously injured.

Police arrived after being notified at 11:06 pm local time. They found Jurairat lying in a pool of blood near her overturned pink Honda Scoopy-i scooter.

She was given CPR and rushed to a hospital, where she remains in critical condition, while the tourist remained at the scene. Officers said she has not regained consciousness today.

During police questioning, Brandon allegedly blamed the injured woman for the accident, prompting furious locals to attack him.

Dramatic footage shows residents lunging at the Brit and his friends, forcing them to flee across the road. He was injured and taken to a hospital for treatment.


Speaking this afternoon, Police Lieutenant Colonel Itthiporn Tangchuthaveesap from the Pattaya City Police Station said: 'His name is Brandon James Solmes, born in 2003.

'Today, he spoke with the victim's relatives. Initially, he compensated them 30,000 baht for the medical expenses that they had already paid to the hospital.

'The British man admitted that he was driving recklessly and will cover the damages.

'We can't say yet how much the future expenses will be, as the victim still needs treatment. The victim suffered a head injury that requires surgery.

'As for the charges, we still have to wait for the doctor's report to determine how many days of recovery are needed, whether the injuries are serious, and if there are any fractures. For now, he will face a charge of reckless driving and causing property damage.

'Regarding the bystanders who helped to attack him and injure him, it depends on whether he wishes to press charges against them.

'He came with another British friend whose name is unknown, but that person was not involved in the case.

'When the police arrived, there were about three or four people about to attack him. He was very frightened and slightly injured, so the police quickly put him in the car for his safety.

'There was no involvement with alcohol or drugs. His alcohol test showed a negligible amount.

'He admitted to everything, and after checking his visa, he was found not to be overstaying.'

Tourists are regularly attacked or caught up in crime and alcohol-related chaos, leading Pattaya to be dubbed 'Sin City'.

Embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination.

Authorities have also introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV.

Despite some success in cleaning up the town's image, alcohol and sex remain its biggest draws, often leading to a high rate of crime and accidents.