A British man was arrested today after allegedly kicking his wife to death when she refused to have sex with him.

Kevin Smitham, 51, had been staying with wife Kanda Smitham, 29, and their parents in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, during the Songkran new year holiday.

But he is said to have flown into a drunken, jealous rage - accusing his wife of cheating on him when she refused to have sex on Sunday evening.

Police said he kicked her to death then covered her body with a blanket before calmly going to bed.

Kevin Smitham, 51, had been staying with wife Kanda Smitham, 29, and their parents in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, during the songkran new year holiday

Police arrived and found fitness fanatic Kanda's body - in only underwear - on the ground in front of the family's single-storey home this morning at 6.30am

The couple had lived together in Pattaya and have two children together. Like many people during the Songkran holiday, were visiting her relatives in the northeastern Isan region

Shocked neighbours saw the body this morning and called authorities.

Police arrived and found fitness fanatic Kanda's body - in only underwear - on the ground in front of the family's single-storey home this morning at 6.30am.

Officers said they found Kevin standing by the side of the building. He allegedly confessed that he had repeatedly kicked Kanda to death.

Inspector General Watcharapol Pimwong, deputy chief of staff in the Det Udom district, said today that Kevin had been arrested and was in custody.

He explained: 'I arrived and found a woman lying naked in front of the house and called officials from the rescue foundation. The woman was Kanda Smitham, age 29.

'The victim had a blanket covering her. There were many bruises on the face and body. She had been dead for several hours.'

The couple had lived together in Pattaya and have two children together. Like many people during the Songkran holiday, they were visiting her relatives in the northeastern Isan region.

They had stayed up late on Sunday drinking beer, according to police.

Police said that this morning Kevin was standing by the side of the building and was 'hung over' after spending the previous night drinking.

Inspector General Pimwong added: 'The victim's husband confessed to killing his wife. He said that he did not mean to kill her.

Officers have sent Kanda's body for a post mortem examination to find the cause of death. Kevin is being held in custody while police continue to investigate

'Last night he and his wife had beer until late at night. He went to sleep in the house. During the drinking and eating, suddenly they started arguing because he wanted to have sex.

'His wife refused and this caused jealousy. He thought that the wife had been courting other men.

'He said he attacked her with his foot, kicked her to [the] face and body several times.

'The wife ran away from home and fell in front of the house. He left his wife like that by covering the blanket to cover it. Then went to bed.'

Officers have sent Kanda's body for a post mortem examination to find the cause of death. Kevin is being held in custody while police continue to investigate.