American YouTuber claims he was attacked and robbed in Thailand
An American YouTuber was allegedly attacked and robbed by two foreign men in Thailand.
Christopher Barne, 37, arrived at a bar in 'Sin City' Pattaya to record videos for his vlog when an acquaintance known as 'Pressure' reportedly lured him outside the venue, in the early hours of October 18.
CCTV footage from a nearby building showed the pair walking to a parking area, where another acquaintance, Avery, was waiting.
But the larger man suddenly rushed Christopher, knocking him to the ground and repeatedly punching him.
Pressure was seen watching the alleged assault unfold before kicking Christopher in the head.
The men then picked up the YouTuber's bag and fled the scene on a motorcycle at around 1:15 am local time.
Christopher, who posts as Chris Barnes online, reported the alleged assault at the Pattaya City Police Station at 2:18 am.
He claimed the pair had stolen cash, three bank cards, a DJI Osmo Pocket camera, and his credit card.
Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, said: ‘The inquiry officer has received the report and will proceed with legal action. The victim wants us to track down the perpetrators for prosecution.'
In a YouTube video detailing the alleged attack, Christopher showed the injuries to his face and body as he appealed for help in tracking down the men.
He also sought financial support from his viewers, saying the loss of his bank cards and personal possessions had left him struggling on the depraved seaside resort.
He said: 'They got me in a bad position. I don't have my credit cards, debit cards, so I'm pretty much down bad right now. I still have things I have to pay for. I have to figure all this stuff out as I go
'I'm really not trying to be like an e-beggar. I don't like coming on here asking people for money. But I am in a bad situation, so I know people like to help.'
He added that he still had to pay for medical and living expenses, and buy a new camera for his vlogs.
He continued: 'So I'm gonna have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a new camera, because I don't have the camera anymore. All this stuff is gonna add up, expenses I have to pay. I don't know how long it's gonna take for the police situation to deal with that. But right now, I have to deal with my personal situation, and I have to get money for myself.'
Christopher has 2,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, where he publishes videos about dating Thai women and his experiences in the country's sleazy strip clubs.
The incident comes after a British pensioner was found unconscious with a fractured skull following a suspected mugging in Pattaya last month.
Barry Webb, 65, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, had been reported missing after failing to board his flight home on October 3, having disappeared from his hotel on September 28 following an alleged row with a Thai woman he had been seeing.
The one-armed pensioner was found near an abandoned building in the Bali Hai Pier area on September 29 and rushed to hospital, where he was treated in intensive care for bleeding on both sides of his brain, severe bruising and other injuries.
He later regained consciousness and claimed his phones, credit card and 8,200 baht (£180) had been stolen.
Pattaya has become the country's flagship tourist destination, fuelled by the allure of bars, massage parlours, and cheap sex. It has been dubbed a 'p*rno Disneyland' by some Brits, who can find relationships and experiences not easily available in their homeland.
Thousands of young girls and women can be found every night along the city's notorious Beach Road, where they can be bought for as little as 1,000 Baht.
But tourists are often attacked or caught up in crime in the seaside resort, leading Pattaya to be dubbed 'Sin City'.
Embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination.
Authorities have also introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV.
Despite some success in cleaning up the town's image, alcohol and sex remain its biggest draws, often leading to a high rate of crime and accidents.
