A British backpacker is facing 10 years in a Thai prison after spray painting "Scousse Lee" on 800-year-old fortress wall as he complained that he "was blind drunk".

Lee Furlong, 23, from Liverpool, was caught on CCTV using a can of black spray paint to deface the historic Tha Phae gate in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on October 18 in the early hours of the morning.

The young backpacker, who faces prosecution under Thailand's Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums Act 1961, said he had been drinking all day before the incident happened and that he is “terrified” at what will happen to him.

The graffiti sparked outrage among locals who accused Mr Furlon, and 23-year-old Canadian Brittney Schneider who was arrested alongside him, of disrespecting the ancient monument and their country.

Both were arrested on Thursday afternoon after police took just a matter of hours to track them back to their hostel located near the ancient wall. They were then marched down to the site, where they both confessed to the crime, after the incorrect spelling of 'scouse' had been cleaned off the wall.