According to reports in a Thai newspaper, former Doncaster resident Raymond Pearson was arrested in the city of Pattaya for alleged distribution and possession of marijuana.

Pearson was arrested on Monday, September 22, after a warrant was issued by the chief of Pattaya's immigration unit based on information from Thailand's Narcotics Suppression Bureau a month earlier.

The ex-pat is alleged to have been on the run from authorities and was eventually found in an apartment in the city following a tip-off.

The report, on the Pattaya Daily News website, revealed Pearson, who told arresting officers that he had retired from the police on health grounds, is accused of running a mail-order drugs business, posting
dried marijuana overseas from the Southeast Asian country.

The destination or quantity of the drugs is unknown.

It added that Pearson, who lives in Thailand with his Thai wife, denied
the allegation.

The Thai authorities are renowned for taking a very robust stance against the illegal drug trade.

Under Thai law, anyone caught supplying the class five drug can expect a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of around £25,000. The possession and supply of harder drugs such as heroin or amphetamines can result in the death penalty.

Information on the Government's Foreign Office website warns Britons to "never become involved with drugs of any kind in Thailand."

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed Pearson had been arrested and added he was receiving assistance from the British Consulate in
Thailand.

However, a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said there was no record of Pearson on their recent personnel files.

Pattaya is a very popular resort, which has transformed in recent years from a fishing village to bustling city, and is now infamous for its sometimes seedy nightlife.