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| Stephen Ashton Thailand death: Arrest after British tourist shot | Stephen Ashton Thailand death: Arrest after British tourist shot |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested after a 22-year-old British tourist was shot dead in Thailand on New Year's Eve. | A man has been arrested after a 22-year-old British tourist was shot dead in Thailand on New Year's Eve. |
| Stephen Ashton was reportedly caught by a stray bullet during a fight between two groups at a bar on Koh Phangan. | Stephen Ashton was reportedly caught by a stray bullet during a fight between two groups at a bar on Koh Phangan. |
| Police on the island said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun. | Police on the island said officers had arrested a 26-year-old Thai man and confiscated a gun. |
| According to the Bangkok Post, Mr Ashton was shot in the upper body in the early hours and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. | According to the Bangkok Post, Mr Ashton was shot in the upper body in the early hours and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. |
| The Foreign Office said it was aware of the death of a British national in Thailand, and was providing consular assistance to the family. | The Foreign Office said it was aware of the death of a British national in Thailand, and was providing consular assistance to the family. |
| It later confirmed the dead man's name. | It later confirmed the dead man's name. |
| Advice on the Foreign Office website, updated in December, notes that seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009. | Advice on the Foreign Office website, updated in December, notes that seven British nationals have been murdered in Thailand since January 2009. |
| 'Dedicated and devoted' | |
| It says western tourists have been victims of vicious unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan. | It says western tourists have been victims of vicious unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan. |
| "These attacks are particularly common around the time of the Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin," it states. | "These attacks are particularly common around the time of the Full Moon parties and generally occur late at night near bars in Haad Rin," it states. |
| "Exercise caution when walking in this area at any time, especially after dark." | "Exercise caution when walking in this area at any time, especially after dark." |
| Mr Ashton's neighbour, Dawn Mason, described him as a "normal, likeable young man". | Mr Ashton's neighbour, Dawn Mason, described him as a "normal, likeable young man". |
| She said his family had moved to Purley, south London, about three years ago and had always been "very nice neighbours". | She said his family had moved to Purley, south London, about three years ago and had always been "very nice neighbours". |
| Mr Ashton's family said they were too distraught to speak to reporters. | Mr Ashton's family said they were too distraught to speak to reporters. |
| Mr Ashton was a regular the Rectory pub, in Brighton Road, Purley. | |
| The pub's deputy manager Matthew Hitchmough said: "He had been coming in here for quite some time, and was bubbly - he always had friends and girls round him. | |
| "He was a nice man - I can't say a bad word about him. | |
| "I know that a few of the people who come in go to Thailand for Christmas and new year." | |
| A former colleague, Michael Jarman, described the junior stockbroker as energetic, happy and full of life. | A former colleague, Michael Jarman, described the junior stockbroker as energetic, happy and full of life. |
| He said Mr Ashton was "dedicated and devoted to what he wanted to do in life". | |
| "He was a breath of fresh air," he added. "It's a big, big shame." | "He was a breath of fresh air," he added. "It's a big, big shame." |
| Koh Phangan is a resort island, neighbouring Koh Samui, which draws thousands of backpackers to its famous full moon parties. | Koh Phangan is a resort island, neighbouring Koh Samui, which draws thousands of backpackers to its famous full moon parties. |