A 72-year-old man who allegedly attempted to grope a female worker at a cosmetics shop in the Kut Chap sub-district of Udon Thani province has issued a public apology after security camera footage of the incident was shared with local media. The video, which shows the elderly man making explicit requests and advancing toward the woman at the cashier’s counter, was released by the victim to highlight the harassment and prompt community and official attention. The exact date of the incident was not disclosed in the reports.
Local Channel 3 visited the scene following media interest and tracked down the man seen in the footage. He told reporters he was sorry and blamed his behaviour on intoxication, while residents and the victim’s colleagues have called for more than an apology given the man’s reported history of similar actions in the area.
Elderly man apologises after groping request at shop
The victim, a female worker at a cosmetics shop in Kut Chap, shared security camera footage with media outlets showing the 72-year-old enter the store barefoot, rush to the cashier’s counter, and verbally request to touch her breasts. In the video he can be heard saying, “Can I touch your breasts? It will give me energy. Can I?” as he reached toward her chest; she immediately chased him away, shouting for him to leave.
While the man eventually left after a colleague threatened to call the police, he reportedly continued making lewd remarks and warned the women that police rarely answered calls. Channel 3 later interviewed the man at the scene; he apologised to the victim in the interview and said he had been drinking at the time, but community members and the victim appear unsatisfied with an apology alone given the nature of the incident.
CCTV footage shows 72-year-old’s lewd advances
The circulated footage, described by local media as clear and candid, captures the confrontation from the store’s security camera and was used by the victim to ensure the incident was documented publicly. In the clip, when the woman grabbed a nearby feather duster to fend him off, he nevertheless stepped closer and even moved behind the counter, prompting her to call for help from a colleague to finally get him to leave.
Reports emphasise that the video was shared without a disclosed date, but its release has drawn attention across the Isaan region, sparking discussion about the vulnerability of women in public-facing retail roles. The victim’s quick thinking in preserving the footage and sharing it with outlets has been credited with shining a light on the incident and encouraging wider community scrutiny.
Community urges mental assessment after repeat incidents
Locals told reporters the man is normally polite and well behaved but that his conduct reportedly deteriorates after drinking, and that he has a history of groping female vendors and other women in the area. One past episode of alleged harassment is said to have resulted in the man being physically assaulted by someone confronting him, highlighting a pattern that neighbours find increasingly worrying.
In response to the latest episode, residents have urged relevant government departments to arrange a mental health assessment and to take preventative measures to avoid repeat behaviour, citing the man’s living situation—he resides with his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren—and the potential risks to vulnerable members of the community. Calls for official intervention aim to balance the man’s age and possible health issues with the need to protect women and deter further harassment.
The incident in Kut Chap has prompted both public concern and calls for concrete action beyond an apology, as community members seek assessments and safeguards to prevent recurrence. As the case gains visibility through the released CCTV footage, authorities and local agencies face pressure to investigate, offer support to the victim, and consider mental health or social services that could address the root causes behind repeated harassment.
