British fugitive wrestled to the ground after being caught living in Thai 'Sin City' resort

This is the moment a fugitive Brit is wrestled to the ground after being caught in Thailand's notorious Sin City.

Luke Michael Timmins, 28, from Plymouth, Devon, served half of a 40-month sentence for drugs offences but then failed to follow his release terms.

Police began hunting Timmins in September 2017 before he emerged in Pattaya, eastern Thailand, in January this year.

The National Crime Agency co-operated with Thai police who pounced on Timmins at his home last Thursday (August 15).

The shirtless thug was wrestled to the ground in front of his Thai girlfriend Patchraporn Mesri, 26, who was wearing an orange Hooters jacket.

Officers searched the home and found five bags of cocaine weighing 4.82 grams. The couples then tested positive for the drug.

A second Brit also wanted for the fleeing the UK, Daniel Hilton Wood, 28, was arrested at the same time at a nearby Buddhist temple as part of the same operation.

Officers allege that after fleeing to Thailand, the pair worked together selling cocaine and methamphetamine to revellers in the red-light district.

Police Colonel Dulyapat Detpornchayasin said: ''Officers received the notification from Interpol on July 26. We immediately began tracking the pair and conducted surveillance on their homes.

''From the investigation, we found that the two British men were connected to other drug dealers in the area who had already been caught.

''They were actively selling cocaine and methamphetamine to other tourists and westerners in bars in Pattaya and around the Walking Street area.

''Arrest warrants were issued for both men who were caught and detained in custody.

"We have already contacted the British embassy. The two men will have their visas withdrawn and will be deported to face procedures under their country's law enforcement.''

Police said that Timmins had also found a property company with his Thai partner for laundering the proceeds of the drug's sales. The couple had cars, a pet dog and a large home together.

According to Crimestoppers, both men were wanted by police in the UK for breaching the terms of their release licences from prison.