Brit held as prostitute dies in balcony fall while having ‘strange, extravagant’ sex
A FORMER British soldier has been arrested after a prostitute plunged to her death as they romped on a balcony in Thailand.
Reece Vella, a convicted rapist who is being hunted by UK police, paid Wannipa Janhuathon £35 for sex at his fifth-floor Pattaya apartment before she died on Saturday. It is also claimed he had overstayed his tourist visa by more than two months.
Police chief Narong Chantra said: “They were having very strange, extravagant sex on the balcony until she fell down below and died.
“Mr Vella was in shock and knowing he had overstayed his visa ran away.”
Wannipa, also known as Joy, suffered severe head injuries and multiple fractures. She died later in hospital.
Vella, from Worcester, was arrested the following day at a bar on suspicion of “negligence causing others to die”. He was last night in police custody and faces 10 years in prison if convicted.
Vella was jailed for four years and nine months in 2012 after he admitted raping a teenager in Worcester. He punched her in the face twice and hit her with a bin lid before the attack.
The 25-year-old was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Vella, a Royal Logistics Corps soldier before being medically discharged in his teens with a heart condition, was in Worcester crown court last year charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Officials said there is an outstanding bench warrant against him. West Mercia Police refused to comment.
Vella moved to Thailand for “a new life” after “getting into trouble” here, his brother Andrayoss said.
He added: “He did have a problem with drugs, and served a stint in prison. But he had turned his life around.
“It was a horrible shock when we were told he had been arrested.
“We feel really sorry for the girl and her family. It was an accident, we know it was. It’s awful.”
He served a stint in prison. But he had turned his life around. It was an accident ANDRAYOSS VELLA BROTHER ON RAPIST’S THAILAND ARREST