THIS is the dramatic moment a British tourist is arrested over the death of a Thai hooker who plunged five floors to her death as they had "strange and extravagant" sex on a balcony.

Police pounced on ex-squaddie Reece Vella, 25, at 4pm local time yesterday following the death of bar girl Wannipa Janhuathon, 26, in the early hours of Saturday morning in Pattaya, Thailand.

9 This is the moment Reece Vella, 25, was arrested in the hours following the prostitute's death Credit: Viral Press

The prostitute suffered severe head injuries and multiple fractures after falling naked along with a half-empty packet of sex drugs from an apartment in the notorious tourist resort.

Police searched the empty room then began a manhunt for the foreign tourist amid suspicions that he had fled the scene following the death of the woman.

Heavily-built Vella, from Birmingham, West Midlands, was arrested yesterday afternoon and was filmed producing two mobile phones from his pockets - one of which police claim was Wannipa’s handset.

In footage from the arrest, the tourist is heard asking to be uncuffed before laughing as he says: "Can I have a cigarette now?’".

9 Vella supposedly quit the Army suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder Credit: Caters News Agency

9 Vella, 25, is interviewed by Thai police today after being arrested over the death of a Thai prostitute Credit: Viral Press

He later admitted to police that he had taken the hooker back to his rented room and "had sex in the bedroom then on the balcony before she fell".

He then said he was "distraught" and returned to a different hotel.

Police Lieutenant Narong Chantra, deputy head of investigations at Pattaya Police, said Vella had been arrested on suspicion of "negligence causing others to die" and fled the scene in panic knowing that he was staying in the country illegally on an expired visa.

The ex-squaddie is said to have quit the Army suffering post-traumatic stress disorder.

9 He was caught at a nearby bar after fleeing the scene of her death Credit: Viral Press

9 The holidaymaker answered questions from Pattaya Police Chief Apichai Krobpetch (far right) after the incident on Saturday morning at around 5.30am Credit: Viral Press

Vella served five years as a private with the Royal Logistics Corps and went to Thailand after battling drug problems and serving time in jail.

Brother Andrayoss, 29, said: “I was able to speak to him very briefly but he is obviously very stressed.

“The whole family is in pieces. When he left the Army he got into a bit of trouble. He fell into the wrong crowd.

“But he had turned his life around and going to Thailand was supposed to be a fresh start.”

9 She fell from a balcony on the fifth floor, cops said Credit: Google Streetview

9 She suffered severe head injuries and multiple fractures in the fall Credit: Viral Press

Vella’s brother Dominic, 27, is flying from his home in Australia.

The family claim Thai cops demanded £12,000 just to make sure he gets food and water.

The bar girl, also known by the nickname Joy was working at Sky Bar in the city’s Soi 6.

Thai police said that Vella arrived at the venue earlier in the evening before agreeing a fee of around £35 (1,500 baht) then leaving with Wannipa and going to a room at the nearby Cosy Beach View condominium block.

9 Vella has been arrested on suspicion of "negligence causing others to die", cops said Credit: Viral Press

But police claim that the pair had been having what translates as "fancy or extravagant" sex on the balcony before Wannipa fell to her death.

Sources close to the investigation said that the packet of Viagra-related gel, which fell along with her body, gave them the first clue that Wannipa had not been alone.

Statement from Police Lieutenant Narong Chantra CCTV from the incident was examined and after checking evidence at the hotel the suspect was found to be Mr Reece Vella, a British citizen, aged 25 years. An arrest warrant was issued after evidence was presented to the court. The police case is that on the day of the incident Mr Vella visited the bar and paid to take Miss Wannipa away. Miss Wannipa and Mr Vella were having very strange, extravagant sex on the balcony until she fell down below and died. Mr Vella was in shock and knowing that he had overstayed his visa ran away and kept her mobile phone in his bag and left the room. Mr Vella has been arrested on suspicion of negligence causing others to die, overstaying his visa in excess of 59 days and stealing a motorcycle at night. The foreign suspect will be processed and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The building’s security guard Kriengsak Khamchachai, 23, described hearing a "loud crash" as the Wannipa hit the floor.

He then walked over and saw her body in a pool of blood before raising the alarm.

Paramedics arrived and performed CPR on Wannipa - who was still alive - but she was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Devastated staff at the venue, whose owner also passed away a few months ago, said Wannipa was one of the "happiest, friendliest girls anybody could wish to meet".

9 The incident occurred in Thailand's notoriously seedy Pattaya resort (file picture) Credit: Viral Press

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They added in a statement: "The place will not be the same without Joy's big cheeky smile and sense of humour.

"She really was a very special girl and left a lasting impression on all of us. She will remain in our hearts forever."

Vella was interviewed by Thai police today. The holidaymaker was seen in handcuffs and looking dishevelled as he answered questions from Pattaya Police Chief Apichai Krobpetch.

Pattaya: 'sex capital of world' More than a million men come to the red light district in Pattaya every year and almost 20 per cent of the population are employed in the sex trade. In 2014 it was estimated that there were more than 120,000 female sex workers in Thailand, according to a United Nations Aids report. However some estimates are double that as not all women are full-time prostitutes. Women offer sex for as little as £50 (2000 baht) or massages with 'happy endings'. Sex tourism in Pattaya began during the Vietnam War when it became an R&R spot for US soldiers.

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