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The British expat who angered his wife after he drunkenly had "Taiwan" tattooed on his forehead has been arrested for drink-driving.

Paul Ferrell, 32, was subjected to a breathalyzer test and was found to have been over the legal limit.

Ferrell, who is also known by his Chinese name "Lo Han" since becoming a naturalised Taiwanese citizen through his native wife, was detained and released without bail and is expected to receive a hefty fine.

Police in Taiwan's south-western city of Kaohsiung said Ferrell was incoherent and unable to respond to questioning, but they "knew who he was" after spotting the huge Chinese characters reading "tai wan" on his forehead.

(Image: AsiaWire) (Image: AsiaWire)

The embarrassing tattoo scandal is said to have resulted in Ferrell's Taiwanese wife leaving him, though it is unclear whether she plans to file for divorce.

It has also emerged in reports that Ferrell once did time in prison for firebombing a corner shop with a Molotov cocktail over a hamburger.

(Image: AsiaWire)

Ferrell, who moved to Taiwan 13 years ago, told local media: "I only rode my scooter for one minute" - referring to the moment he was caught drink-driving by the patrolling police officers.

Ferrell, who met his wife in Australia in the mid-2000s, made headlines when, after a night of heavy drinking, he stormed into a tattoo parlour demanding that "Taiwan" be inked on his forehead.

Tattoo artist Wei Cheng said he tried to talk the Brit out of it, but to no avail.

The Brit, who emigrated from the UK at the age of 20, also revealed alternative pro-Taiwan independence flags on his right arm and chin when posting the "pleasing" new photos of his tattoo online.

"I got very very very drunk and got a stupid tattoo on my face!" he wrote, adding: "Just how bad do you think it is?"

(Image: AsiaWire)

The man who runs a bar known as "The Kayak Club" in Kaohsiung also appears to have made a name for himself in the expat community in Taiwan.

In 2015, he was reportedly arrested on arson charges after he hurled a Molotov cocktail into a Family Mart corner shop following a dispute with the employees inside over a hamburger.

Footage from the business allegedly shows a flaming bottle of alcohol being thrown outside the premises, after which it explodes into a fireball.

Moments earlier, a drunken Ferrell had allegedly been filmed slapping and yelling at the staff, reportedly saying: "Come on. Fight me now outside. Right now. Me and you. Let's go. Yeah."

According to reports, Ferrell had wanted a hamburger but was upset at having not been given ketchup.

All condiments, however, were placed on the counter and free for customers to use, the staff said.

Ferrell reportedly skipped bail and fled to the UK after the incident but eventually returned to Taiwan.