Security cameras have captured the moment an Australian tourist allegedly walked out of a tattoo parlour in Thailand without settling his substantial bill, leaving the artist thousands of baht out of pocket.
The Six-Hour Tattoo Session
Caden Davies, an 18-year-old artist at Dragon Ink Tattoo studio in Patong on Phuket's west coast, claims he devoted six hours to correcting a samurai mask tattoo on the tourist's arm without receiving full payment. The artist recounted how the man, who described himself as a farmer from Australia visiting with his wife and young daughter, initially failed to show for his November 16 appointment, leaving Mr Davies waiting the entire day.
"We agreed on a price of 25,000 baht (£572) for a correction job," Mr Davies stated. "I started tattooing at 3pm and finished at 9pm. It took around six hours for a picture of a samurai mask on his arm."
The Disappearing Act
When the extensive tattoo work concluded on the evening of November 17, the tourist reportedly informed Mr Davies that he couldn't make immediate payment. "I asked him to pay, but he said his card could not withdraw money and he would pay the next day," the tattoo artist explained. "I trusted him and let him leave, but I have never experienced anything like this before."
CCTV footage from the studio shows the bald Australian tourist putting on a black t-shirt after his tattoo session. He appears to chat amiably with staff members before casually walking out of the establishment.
Partial Payment and Final Disappearance
The situation took another turn when the tourist returned to the studio two days later. "On the morning of November 18, he came back to say he was leaving Thailand on the 19th," Mr Davies recalled. The man paid 4,000 baht (£91) in addition to his original 6,000 baht (£137) deposit, but this still left a significant outstanding balance.
"He still owes us 15,000 baht (£717)," the artist confirmed. "He said he would go withdraw more money but then he disappeared. I was busy at the time, so I did not follow up."
Warning to Local Businesses
Mr Davies confirmed that his studio hasn't yet filed a formal police report but issued a stark warning to other businesses in the popular tourist area. "We want other stores to beware of this kind of tourist," he emphasised. "We do not want this to happen anywhere else."
This incident follows closely after another case involving an Australian national in Thailand. Liam Allan Lakeman, 25, was arrested on November 1 for an alleged shoplifting spree at Central Phuket Festival shopping centre, where he was reportedly caught on CCTV stuffing a football jersey under his shirt.
Thai police released interview footage showing Lakeman allegedly confessing to taking items from the store. If convicted, he faces up to three years in a Thai prison and fines up to 6,000 baht (£137).
These incidents occur as locals on Phuket express growing concerns about 'over-tourism' linked to the Thai government's visa-free scheme for numerous nationalities, including Australians. The scheme, while boosting tourist numbers, has raised questions about tourist behaviour and its impact on local businesses and communities.
