British pensioner, 70, shot dead while riding scooter in Thailand

A British pensioner was murdered while riding his scooter in Thailand in what police say is a possible road incident or involved in a love triangle.

The retired engineer, 70, had been drinking with friends before riding his moped home on a dark road when he was shot four times in the back on Thursday.

Locals in Pattaya heard the shots and found the Doncaster victim in a pool of blood just before 10:30pm. Four shell casings were found on the road nearby.

The man’s younger partner, 38, arrived at the scene where she broke down in tears. Police and paramedics performed CPR but he was pronounced dead on the street after suffering severe blood loss.

A British pensioner has been murdered in Thailand by being shot four times in the back while riding his scooter. Pictured: Police officers and paramedics are seen at the scene after the retired engineer was shot four times in the back as he rode his moped down a dark Pattaya street on Thursday night. He was found around 10:30 p.m

Officers have now confiscated the victim’s partner’s phone and are questioning her, with one theory suggesting the man was involved in a love triangle in the notorious holiday destination known for its crime and adult nightlife.

Police said the victim had lived in Thailand for 20 years and had a Thai family.

Photos from the scene Thursday night showed officers and paramedics on a dark stretch of road, with numbered placards next to the shell casings on the tarmac.

Police Colonel Surakit In-am of the Huay Yai District Police Station said a “love affair or street rage” were two possible motives for the brutal murder.

Today he said: “Girlfriend’s phone has been confiscated and we are reviewing all communications she had with [the man] and other people.

‘[The victim] may also have gotten into an argument with other foreigners or street hoopla while driving home. We don’t know the motive for the murder. Nobody has been arrested so far. We are still investigating and collecting all evidence.’

Officers said the 70-year-old was hit four times in the back by three 9mm projectiles and a shrapnel. He had two gunshot wounds on his back, one above his waist and one below his armpit.

He fell to the ground and was lying on his back next to his red Honda Scoopy when police arrived. He had also been wearing a helmet, which was removed while medics examined his body.

The man’s glasses were also found in the street next to his body, about two miles from his home.

Locals heard the shots and found the Doncaster victim in a pool of blood just before 10.30pm. Four shell casings were found on the road nearby. Pictured: The stretch of road in Thailand seen on Friday where the man was found on January 4

Police Colonel Chakkrapan Kittisiripornkul, Deputy Commander of Chonburi Police, said the man’s partner arrived at the scene shortly after the accident.

The partner, who had been with the pensioner for four years, collapsed and cried next to the body of her lover. She told police they lived together but their marriage was never registered.

The widow told police the victim was a retired engineer from England who had visited his ailing sister for Christmas before returning to Pattaya on Wednesday January 4.

On the day of his death, he went out drinking with friends at 4 p.m. while she did housework. She waited at home until someone called her to say he had been shot. The partner told police she didn’t know if the man had had arguments with other expats or locals.

Police Colonel Chakkrapan said resident Kittikun Impeng, 29, was questioned at the scene. He told officers he was riding a motorcycle and saw someone lying in a pool of blood.

Kittikun tried to call him, but all he could hear was the sound of breathing, so he called emergency services. When they saw signs of gunfire, he called the police.

Paramedics came first, but the victim had already died.

Police Colonel Surakit said by phone this morning that a “love affair or road rage” were two possible motives for the murder.

He said: “Three motives we look at first are that the victim was involved in a love affair, street rage or an argument. We also plan to interview the last people who saw it [the victim] before he went home. You’ll know if he had a fight before he rode his bike.

“We have to decide whether the attack was planned or happened suddenly, after something like a bar fight.

“The shooter quickly walked away with no leads and there were no witnesses who saw him, so we don’t yet know if they were on foot, on a motorcycle or in a car.

“We have all the evidence we need from the crime scene and the road is open again.”

Meanwhile, neighbors told officers they heard gunshots about three or four times but didn’t notice anyone because motorbikes and cars often crossed the street.

Police Colonel Chakkrapan said today investigators met on Friday afternoon to assess the case and possible suspects.

He added: “We’re interviewing the dead man’s partner and circumstantial witnesses while also checking surveillance cameras along the route, but we don’t have any footage yet.

“Police have not yet made a decision on the motive, but we have confirmed that the victim had just returned to Thailand from his Christmas holiday.

“We are investigating and have just had a meeting with some supervisors and will have more meetings in the afternoon. We don’t think this was an accidental shooting. Pattaya is a safe place and that doesn’t usually happen.”

Police Commander Itthipol Itthisaronchai said today officers were investigating the man’s “financial transactions” and who would benefit from his death.

He said: “Officials from the Immigration and Tourist Police have been called to help with the investigation. You will look at his visa extensions and various financial transactions to find out who would receive the benefits of the deceased.

“The deceased lived in Thailand for about 20 years and was in and out of the country. He had a Thai family.

“We are ready to solve the case. The meeting this afternoon was production and CCTV is being monitored along the routes surrounding the incident.’ The police did not say exactly what [the victims] Girlfriend told them in interviews.

She wasn’t arrested.

MailOnline has reached out to the UK Foreign Office for comment.