Battered and bruised, the gran attacked by Thai gang
Tourist pensioner, 68, knocked out in street with husband and son
A SCOTS grandmother who was knocked out by drunken thugs in Thailand had been celebrating her husband’s birthday when the attack happened. Rosemary and Lewis Owen were on their annual visit to the country when their son knocked over one of the gang-member’s drinks by accident.
The minor incident triggered a brutal assault in which the Welsh family was pounded with punches and kicks, leaving them lying unconscious in the street.
Yesterday images showed Glasgowborn Mrs Owen in hospital with severe bruising. She is being treated for swelling to the brain. Mr Owen and his wife, both 68, often visit Thailand to celebrate the businessman’s birthday, which coincides with the country’s New Year.
Friends yesterday revealed that the couple, from Wenvoe near Cardiff, had been regular visitors to the country since the 1980s.
On this holiday they were joined in the resort of Hua Hin by their graphic designer son, also called Lewis, who works in Singapore.
Yesterday the 43-year-old, who needed 16 stitches in a head wound, vowed never to return to the country. He told the Daily Mirror: ‘I’m not going back to Thailand again. Mum and dad won’t be either. Never, ever again. Dad had six stitches in his forehead and there is some heavy bruising and he had two black eyes.
‘The swelling was not going down on mum’s brain but they have done some operations.’
He said he only got to see the full extent of the attack when he watched it on CCTV.
‘I have been speaking to my mum and dad every day. I did not realise how badly we were beaten up. We were all unconscious. My mum did not even realise she had been kicked in the face. I did not know my head had been stamped on.
‘It was just out of the blue. None of us were drunk – we had just had a merry night and were going home.’
Yesterday witnesses claimed that prior to the attack, which took place at around 2am, drunken locals had been wandering the streets.
One witness even revealed that he was left needing dental work after trying to intervene in the melee.
Writing online, he said: ‘Not one person (other than myself) came to aid these old folk and they ended up laid in the road bleeding, so if you’re out tonight please be alert.’
Local police yesterday arrested two men, Suppata Baitong and Yingyai Sangkham, both aged 32, in connection with the incident.
Officials said the family had identified the arrested men, who have now apologised to the victims. Officers are still searching for accomplices.
‘It was just out of the blue’