A 25-year-old British handyman was arrested in Kampot province on Sunday on suspicion of raping another U.K. national the night before, though police now believe the sex was consensual, an official said Sunday.
Nicholas Laycook, a plumber and electrician, had been staying at the Arcadia Backpackers guesthouse in Toek Chhou district for the past six months, and was arrested there on Sunday morning after provincial police received a complaint from his alleged victim, a 22-year-old tourist, according to deputy provincial police chief Mao Chanmathurith.
In her complaint, the woman accused Mr. Laycook of raping and physically abusing her in her bungalow at the guesthouse after a night of hard partying, Mr. Chanmathurith said.
But the woman withdrew her complaint later on Sunday, he said, after the owner of the guesthouse went to the provincial police headquarters to show police security camera footage of Mr. Laycook and her entering the bungalow holding hands.
“So both of them volunteered” to have sex, Mr. Chanmathurith said, adding that Mr. Laycook, who is being held at police headquarters, would be sent to the Kampot Provincial Court on Monday.
“Only the court can decide whether to drop the accusations or not,” he said.
