PHUKET: A Phuket hotel repair man is being held in cells at Phuket Provincial Court pending an appearance on a charge of having raped a 31-year-old British woman.

Lieutenant Thanakrit Keawyai of Kathu Police Station, which oversees the holiday centre of Patong, on Phuket's west coast, said today that the charge against the man was rape, not attempted rape.

The charged man, Supachai Jongkonpeort, 27, was sent to do repairs in the woman's room at a Patong hotel on Saturday morning.

He found the expat resident asleep on the bed in her room and raped her, police allege.

Khun Supachai has since claimed that penetration did not take place, and that he ejaculated prematurely on the bed.

Lieutenant Thanakrit told Phuketwan that the woman had been examined at Patong Hospital and that while officers were still awaiting the results of DNA tests, police were confident that they were correct in pursuing a charge of rape.

The British woman, who cannot by law be identified, said that she had punched her attacker twice in the face during the attack. The woman is an expat resident who lives and works on Phuket.

British honorary consul on Phuket, Martin Carpenter, has been in contact with the woman. Further assistance will be provided as deemed necessary.

Khun Supachai can be held in cells at the court in Phuket City for 48 hours and then is likely to be sent to Phuket Prison, although an application for bail may be considered during his court appearance.