A surgeon has finally been jailed over botched cosmetic surgery that left a pretty model in a coma for five years.

Chatree Promchot carried out a cheekbone reduction and double eyelid procedure on Chayada Hiranyanit, now 29, at a clinic in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2020.

However, the patient reportedly went into shock from a suspected anaesthesia overdose during the procedure.

Chayada never regained consciousness and now needs constant care. She has limited brain function and is fed through a tube in her vegetative state.

Her family have so far racked up around 30 million Baht (700,000 GBP) in medical bills along with the ongoing monthly expenses.

Despite a ruling for the clinic to cover the costs, they closed down, changed staff and re-opened under a new name - blaming the victim for the injuries.

The Bangkok North Municipal Court on Wednesday, August 20, has sentenced surgeon Chatree to six months in prison and clinic owner Penlada Krutkosa to three months.

Chayada's brother, Apiphu Hiranyanit, said: 'The sentence is nothing compared with what my little sister has endured, nearly six years bedridden, six years of struggle.

'They never once took responsibility, always blaming everybody else but themselves.

'I will keep holding my sister's hand and fighting for her, just like we used to do together. One day, it will be our day. The ones who lose should be them, not us.

'My sister's life has been destroyed by their negligence. She trusted the clinic, and they took away everything from her.'

The verdict followed an arduous years-long legal battle, after the family previously won a civil lawsuit against the clinic, which was ordered to pay 29 million Baht (662,003 GBP) in compensation.

However, the suspects refused to pay, and blamed the family for being unable to settle the 30 million Baht (684,830 GBP) in hospital fees.

Investigations by the Medical Council of Thailand found that the clinic administered anaesthetic that was not up to standard. The doctor confirmed that the anaesthesia used during the procedure was too strong, resulting in the patient suffering an overdose.

Thanakrit Jitareerat, an assistant to the Minister attached to the Office of the Prime Minister, said that the Medical Council of Thailand had previously taken action by suspending the doctor and closing the clinic for three months.

The judges in the most recent case and suspended the surgeon's license to operate for two years.

Chayada's brother, Apiphu Hiranyanit, added: 'Although a criminal case was filed, we felt the case was progressing too slowly. We hired a lawyer to file the lawsuit and speed up the process.

'The actions of the offenders by refusing to pay, closing down and then re-opening, have made the ordeal much more stressful.

'I hope that they will never work in the medical or cosmetic industry again.'

The family's lawyer Phasit Lertsincharoenkul added: 'The court, after reviewing the evidence, found that the two defendants acted negligently, causing serious injury to another person, and thus committed the crimes as charged.

'The court sentenced Dr Chatree, the first defendant, to six months in prison and Dr Penlada, the second defendant, to three months. The defendants have consistently denied the charges, and the court therefore had no reason to suspend their sentences.'