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Scouser Facing Ten Years In Thai Jail For Defacing 800-Year-Old Wall

Scouser Facing Ten Years In Thai Jail For Defacing 800-Year-Old Wall

He's obviously not exactly a genius. He couldn't even spell it correctly.

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Unless you're someone like Banksy, graffiti art is pretty exclusively frowned on. Firstly, it's illegal in a lot of places, and even if you're not caught people will scoff and rip it apart for its artistic merit.

They'll definitely be doing that if you daub "SCOUSER LEE" on the side of an 800-year-old Thai fortress like one idiot backpacker.

Not only did he senselessly deface an historic building, he also spelt the original message wrong and then went back over it. It initially read "SCOUSSE LEE".

ViralPress

We're not dealing with the smartest knife in the drawer here, you'd have to presume.

Unluckily for our budding Banksy, he is now facing up to ten years in prison in Thailand for his antics.

Lee Furlong was captured on CCTV using a can of black spray paint to conjure up his pointless message onto the side wall of the Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, in the early hours of October 18th.

The 23-year-old, who is originally from Liverpool (in case you hadn't guessed) sparked outrage among the local population with his destructive antics.

The monument dates back to the 13th century and - would you believe - the locals have grown pretty fond of it in that time

ViralPress

Speaking from his hotel, where he is presumably staying while he awaits what is going to happen to him, he said: "I'd been drinking all day. I'd had some bad news from my family and I went out drinking. I mean, I was really, really drunk.

"I saw the spray can and just picked it up. Honestly, I didn't know what I was doing. When I woke up the police were here.

"They took me to the station and I was in shock. I'm terrified of what will happen now."

He will appear in court in two weeks for a hearing, and he also claims that the Thai police have confiscated his passport.

ViralPress

He continued: "I've spoken to my family and I'm trying to get some help. I really need it. I honestly don't know what to do. My visa runs out in two days, that's another problem.

"I had been having such an amazing time here. The best time of my life. I'm just devastated that I've done something so stupid. I'm sorry to all the Thai people that have been offended by it. I've been an idiot."

Yeah, that about covers it.

As well as Furlong, a Canadian woman called Brittney Schneider was also arrested. The 23-year-old spray painted the letter B on the wall as well.

ViralPress

They were both arrested and taken to the scene of the crime, where they both confessed.

Lieutenant Colonel Teerasak Sriprasert of the Chiang Mai police said: "Officers investigated the vandalism after it was seen on CCTV cameras. The offenders were tracked to a guest house near the same road as the wall.

"The accused will be investigated and prosecuted according to the law.

"'The accused were questioned and confessed that the incident happened earlier in the morning at 4am."

Featured Image Credit: ViralPress

Topics: Liverpool, World News, UK News, News, Thailand