A TOURIST facing a 10-year prison sentence after being charged with having sex with a young boy in his hotel in Thailand said today: "I am the victim of a complete and dreadful set-up."

Public school teacher and magistrate Philip Howarth, who hails from Burnley, was arrested in a police swoop on his room at the Honey Inn, Pattaya, and released on bail after appearing in court yesterday.

He and two Dutch friends are charged with molestation and having sex with a 14-year-old boy found in Mr Howarth's room in the £8-a-night hotel, in the city centre of the popular beach resort.

But today, the 39-year-old bachelor, whose mother lives in Burnley, told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph he would be fighting the charge and told how his Asian dream holiday turned into a nightmare when eight police officers barged into his room as he watched TV with the youngster he befriended.

Speaking from the beach resort hotel today he said: "They swarmed in with video cameras and told the boy to take off his shirt while they photographed him."

Mr Howarth, who teaches at the prestigious Royal Wolverhampton School, West Midlands, went on: "They kept asking for 'guarantee' money, which I interpret as a bribe, to let the whole thing drop, but the price kept going up and up. "They then went to the adjoining room used by my friends and they were arrested too and are still in custody."

The police raid was part of a major crackdown on the notorious child sex industry in Thailand. They allege Mr Howarth, a JP at Wolverhampton magistrates' court for the past six years, had picked up the boy at a local market and paid £9 for his services.

Police had followed them back to the hotel and then swooped on the room.

But Mr Howarth said: "I just don't know what is going on. I feel like a very small pawn in a very big game - it is so unfair. The boy is someone I befriended in the street and he was helping me learn the Thai language. I did not have sex with him, nor did I intend to."

Mr Howarth who went to Thailand on July 12, was due back in Britain in early August, but fears he may have to wait many weeks before his case is heard. He is due to appear before magistrates again in 11 days time.

He said he had been in touch with his mother and told her of his arrest and was going to contact the British embassy in Bangkok today.

Mr Howarth said he has not lived in Burnley for some years, although he regularly visits his family in the town. He says he believes he will lose his job at the £8,610-a-year mixed boarding school where he has been a maths teacher for 15 years.

Colleagues at the school expressed amazement today and officials at the court said Mr Howarth, who was 'well respected,' would be suspended as a JP until the case had been dealt with.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Nakaharin Nuroon said today: "We hope to finish gathering evidence in a month and present the case to prosecutors."

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