A former British policeman has been arrested in Thailand over claims he sold women into slavery.
Ian Shuttleworth is accused of luring Thai women to London under false promises of a job in a restaurant.
Thai police believe the women were then sold to brothel owners who forced them into sex slavery.
Mr Shuttleworth, 45, who runs a security services agency in Bangkok, protested his innocence at a media conference in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Police Major General Panya Maman said: "We arrested him because a victim, whom the suspect sent abroad but now is in Thailand, insisted that the suspect sent her for prostitution."
No charges
Mr Shuttleworth, who was born in St Helens, Merseyside, said: "An allegation has been made and the police have to do their job.
"They must arrest me in the circumstances because of the allegation that has been made.
"I know that my dad has nothing to worry about"
"At the moment, I don't really know exactly what the situation is."
No charges have yet been brought by Thai police.
Mr Shuttleworth's son James, 27, a project manager from Leeds, who was with him when he was arrested, told BBC London he was shocked at the allegations.
But he added: "I know that my dad has nothing to worry about."
He said his father was semi-retired and had been living in Bangkok for around five years.
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~51~RS~)