Briton, Canadian arrested for graffiti on wall

The graffiti seen on the ancient wall near the Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai on Friday. It has since been removed. (Photo courtesy of www.cm108.com)

Two tourists charged with vandalism for spray-painting graffiti on the wall at the historic Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty, police say.

Briton Furlong Lee and Canadian Brittney Schneider, both 23, were arrested at a guesthouse in Chiang Mai on Thursday and are being held at the provincial court, police said.

Closed-circuit video showed the pair spray-painting the red brick wall near the Tha Phae Gate, the main entrance to the city's old town.

"They admitted to the crime," Pol Maj Anon Cherdchutrakulthong told Reuters. "When people visit somewhere they should know not to [leave] graffiti."

Reuters was unable to reach Ms Schneider or Mr Lee for comment.

Pol Maj Anon said the pair did not yet have a lawyer, adding that they showed signs of having been intoxicated when arrested.

Video obtained by Reuters showed the words "Scouser Lee B" painted on the wall in an apparent reference to the English city of Liverpool. Police did not confirm Mr Lee's hometown.

The pair face up to 10 years in jail, a fine of up to 1 million baht or both, if found guilty, police said.

Video courtesy of Facebook@ChiangMaiNews