Canadian Tutor Arrested In Western Thailand For Alleged Rape Of 15-Year-Old Student

BANGKOK – A 68-year-old Canadian tutor has been arrested in western Thailand after allegedly molesting a teenage girl he had been privately tutoring in mathematics. The case has reignited serious concerns about the safety of foreign teachers working with children in Thailand.

James Inkster, a Canadian national who served as assistant principal at an international school near Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima province, was arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Sunday by officers from the Anti Trafficking in Persons Division.

According to Pol Lt Gen Nathasak Chaonasai, chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, Inkster had been hired by the girl’s parents to tutor their daughter in math at their home twice a week for three years. That relationship of trust, police say, is what made the alleged crime possible.

Police say the assault took place on October 20, 2025, while the girl’s parents were away from home. Inkster allegedly asked the 15-year-old to show him her bedroom — and then raped her there.

During his arrest, officers found a large number of pornographic video clips and photographs stored on his mobile phone.

This was not Inkster’s first brush with the law over this case. He had already been arrested once before on the same rape allegation and released on bail. After that release, he reportedly began selling off his assets — including gold jewelry — before quietly relocating from Nakhon Ratchasima to Prachuap Khiri Khan, where police eventually tracked him down.

When asked why he had moved, Inkster told officers he was having problems with his girlfriend and had gone to stay with a friend.

What Jail Time Does He Face?

Under Thai law, the penalties for sexual assault involving a minor are severe.

Under Section 276 of the Thai Penal Code, rape carries a sentence of 4 to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 80,000 to 400,000 baht.
Because the victim was under 15, the punishment can increase to 20 years or more.
The fact that Inkster held a position of authority — as a teacher and tutor — is an aggravating factor under Thai law that can increase the sentence by one-third.
Police also recovered pornographic material from his device, which could trigger additional charges.

In short, if found guilty, Inkster could face decades behind bars.

Thailand updated its criminal code in December 2025 under Amendment No. 30, which toughened the definition of rape and increased penalties for those who abuse positions of power over their victims — precisely the kind of scenario alleged in this case.

A Troubling Pattern: Foreign Teachers Who Abuse Students in Thailand

Sadly, this case is far from an isolated incident. Thailand has seen a string of cases involving foreign educators who exploited their access to children.

Christopher Paul Neil (Canada) Perhaps the most notorious case: Neil, a Canadian teacher who worked across Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam, was arrested in Thailand in 2007 following a worldwide Interpol manhunt. German police had digitally unscrambled photos he posted online showing him sexually abusing at least 12 boys — some as young as six years old — across Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. He had disguised his identity by digitally swirling his face in the images. Neil was convicted and served time in a Thai prison before being extradited to Canada.

Wayne Nelson Corliss (Canada). Also Canadian, Corliss was sentenced in 2009 to nearly 20 years in prison for his role in an international sex tourism ring that preyed on young boys in Thailand.

Luke Rockwell (USA) In September 2023, an American English teacher and TikTok personality was arrested in Bangkok after allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl he met online. He was charged with luring a minor for indecent purposes.

These cases share a common thread: men who used their status as trusted foreign educators to gain access to vulnerable young people.

Why Does This Keep Happening?

Experts and child protection advocates point to several recurring problems:

Weak background check systems — Many international and private schools in Thailand do not conduct thorough criminal background checks on foreign hires.
Visa and work permit loopholes — Some foreign nationals exploit gaps in the system to gain employment working with children.
Power imbalance — Private tutoring arrangements, especially in the student’s home, place children alone with adults in an inherently unequal relationship.
Delayed reporting — Fear, shame, and the authority of the perpetrator often prevent victims and families from coming forward quickly.

Inkster remains in custody and is expected to face formal charges. Thai police have not indicated whether they are investigating other potential victims.

The case is likely to add pressure on Thailand’s education authorities and international schools to tighten their screening processes for foreign teachers — a call that advocacy groups have been making for years.