A British man, Luke Adam Lawrence, has been arrested in Chon Buri province, Thailand, after authorities uncovered alarming evidence linking him to the sexual assault of a minor. The arrest follows a disturbing discovery by the child’s mother, who found incriminating footage on her mobile phone.
Luke Adam Lawrence, 30, from Leeds, UK, was apprehended on December 2, following a court-issued warrant. He was taken into custody at a condominium in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, where he had been residing. Lawrence is facing severe charges, including the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, a crime for which consent is not a defense. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) is overseeing the legal proceedings under the direction of Saruti Kwangsopa.
Before his arrest, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had been investigating Lawrence for child sexual exploitation. During the investigation, officials discovered disturbing footage on his phone, which appeared to show the sexual abuse of a Thai child. This evidence prompted the NCA to cooperate with Thai law enforcement, leading to the identification of the young victim.
After thorough investigation, Thai officials confirmed that the victim in the footage was a girl, aged six at the time, known under the pseudonym Nong A. She is the daughter of Bee, a woman who had been in a relationship with Lawrence for over two years. Upon discovering the video on her phone, Bee immediately filed a police report.
Lawrence, however, has denied the charges. After his arrest, he was transferred to the ATPD for further questioning. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in Thailand has issued a public warning to Thai women involved in online relationships with foreign nationals, urging them to remain cautious of potential predators, as pedophilia is a disorder marked by sexual attraction to prepubescent children.