British tourist arrested after naked prostitute plunges to her death during ‘strange’ balcony sex
A British man has been arrested after a Thai prostitute fell to her death from an apartment balcony.
Reece Vella, 25, was detained at around 4pm local time on Sunday following the tragic death 26-year-old Wannipa Janhuathon.
The incident occurred in Pattaya, where the pair were said to have engaged in “strange and extravagant sex” on the balcony of a fifth-floor apartment at a notorious tourist resort.
The naked prostitute reportedly fell off the balcony with a halfempty packet of sex drugs.
She suffered severe head injuries and multiple fractures in the fall, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police searched the empty room – finding clothes and used condoms – before launching a manhunt for the tourist amid suspicions he had fled the scene.
Vella was arrested at the nearby Route CC Roadhouse bar on Sunday.
The suspect, from Birmingham, West Midlands, was filmed producing two mobile phones from his pockets - one of which police claim was Wannipa’s handset.
In footage from his arrest, he is heard asking to be uncuffed, before apparently laughing as he says: “Can I have a cigarette now?”
He reportedly later admitted to police that he had taken Wannipa back to his rented room and “had sex in the bedroom, then on the balcony before she fell.”
He then said he had been “distraught” and returned to a different hotel.
The tourist had arrived in Thailand between three to four months prior.
Police Lieutenant Narong Chantra, deputy head of investigations at Pattaya Police, said Vella had been arrested on suspicion of “negligence causing others to die.”
He said the suspect had fled the scene in panic, knowing that he had been staying in the country illegally on an expired visa.
He added: “CCTV from the incident was examined and after checking evidence at the hotel, the suspect was found to be Mr Reece Vella, a British citizen, aged 25.
“An arrest warrant was issued after evidence was presented to the court.
“The police case is that on the day of the incident, Mr Vella visited the bar and paid to take Miss Wannipa away.
“Miss Wannipa and Mr Vella were having very strange, extravagant sex on the balcony until she fell and died.
“Mr Vella was in shock and knowing that he had overstayed his visa ran away and kept her mobile phone in his bag and left the room.
“Mr Vella has been arrested on suspicion of negligence causing others to die, overstaying his visa in excess of 59 days and stealing a motorcycle at night.
“The foreign suspect will be processed and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
Wannipa, also known by the nickname Joy, had moved from her home town in Sakon Nakhon province and was working at Sky Bar.
The venue is situated in the city’s bustling Soi 6 street, which is lined with hundreds of prostitutes working in bars and massage parlours.
Thai police said Vella arrived at the bar earlier in the evening before agreeing a fee of around 1,500 baht (£35) and leaving with Wannipa.
They went to a room at the nearby Cosy Beach View condominium block, they said.
Police claimed that the pair had been having what translates into “fancy or extravagant” sex on the balcony before Wannipa fell to her death.
Her body was found next to a packet of Viagra-related Kamagra oral jelly – which had fallen along with her – at around 5.30am local time.
Sources close to the investigation said that the packet of gel gave them the first clue that Wannipa had not been alone – and had actually been mid-way through sex when she plunged naked to the ground.
The building’s security guard, Kriengsak Khamchachai, 23, described hearing a “loud crash” as the prostitute hit the floor.
He walked over and saw her body in a pool of blood before raising the alarm.
Paramedics arrived and performed CPR on Wannipa, who was still alive. Despite their efforts, she was later pronounced dead in hospital.
Devastated staff at the venue, whose owner also passed away a few months ago, said Wannipa was one of the “happiest, friendliest girls anybody could wish to meet.”
They added in a statement: “As many of you know we lost our beautiful Joy [on Saturday] morning.
“The place will not be the same without Joy’s big cheeky smile and sense of humour.
“She really was a very special girl and left a lasting impression on all of us. She will remain in our hearts forever.”