4 foreigners charged over sex crimes

BANGKOK - THAI police have charged a Briton with raping an underage girl, and another with attempted rape.

Investigators said on Monday that an American and a Finn were also charged with sex offences involving underage girls in Pattaya, which is notorious for its sex tourism industry.

All four were charged with sexual molestation of children aged under 15, police said. They face up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Stephen James Ellison, 54, from London, was charged with raping a girl under the age of 15. He faces up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

Londoner Maurice John Praill, 76, was charged with attempting to rape a girl under 15.

American Glenn Richard Allen, 60, and Finn Ilkka Ylikolola, 63, were charged with molestation.