Luke Adam Lawrence, a 30-year-old from Leeds, West Yorkshire, was identified by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in connection with an alleged video depicting the abuse of a young girl.

Working with Thai authorities, investigators traced Lawrence to Pattaya, a seaside city nicknamed “Sin City,” where he was living with his Thai girlfriend. On the morning of Tuesday, December 3, armed police raided his rented apartment in the Private Paradise Pattaya condominium complex.

Footage from the raid shows Lawrence emerging shirtless from his bedroom, followed by his partner dressed in light blue silk nightwear. A translator read the charges to him in the presence of police.

Lawrence was ordered to kneel as the charges were read, to which he reacted with surprise, saying, “What, woah, wow.” The translator detailed the charges, including r@pe and statutory r@pe of a minor under 13 years old, emphasizing the use of threats or force against someone incapable of resisting.

The translator added that the alleged victim’s consent was irrelevant due to her age and inability to fight back.

Lawrence was formally arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the young girl, who authorities believe he knew through a friend. He was then escorted to a waiting police van.

Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) confirmed in a media release that the NCA had flagged Lawrence as a suspect after reportedly tracing child abuse content to his phone.

Officers said the investigation was launched when the NCA claimed to have traced child abuse content to Lawrence’s phone. A clip allegedly showed him r@ping a young Southeast Asian girl, which they believe happened in Thailand. 

The cops in the UK then liaised with officers in Bangkok at the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division. The Thai police said they analysed the footage and compared it with different locations in Pattaya and social media posts to find Lawrence.They claim to have identified the victim as a seven-year-old girl who was abused when she was six years old. They believe that Lawrence had connections to the mother of the alleged victim. 

An arrest warrant was issued for “r@ping a minor under the age of 13” and Lawrence was caught at 7:15 am. He was handcuffed and passed to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division for further legal action. Police Lieutenant Colonel Kiatkong Thongkham of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division said: “The suspect denied all charges and refused to testify during the arrest. He was detained at the police station.” 

Investigating officers later informed the schoolgirl’s mother of the arrest. They allegedly presented evidence and she filed further complaints to be added to the charge sheet. The CIB said in a statement about the case that local women should “beware” of foreign men who visit the country looking for a girlfriend.