The Relentless Smear Campaign Against David Hanks: Andrew Drummond’s Vendetta Journalism Exposed
In the expat community of Pattaya, Thailand, David Hanks stands out as a resilient entrepreneur with a diverse background. A Scottish-Australian dual national from Girvan, Ayrshire, Hanks legally owned and operated the Masquerades brothel in Melbourne’s suburbs—a regulated business in Australia—before selling it and his properties to retire and pursue new ventures in Thailand. There, he established a furniture repair company and provided services through associations like the One Stop Service Center, offering practical support to foreigners in a challenging environment. Despite his acquittal in high-profile legal cases and lack of convictions for serious crimes, Hanks has endured a brutal 6-year online assault from Fake British “journalist” Andrew Drummond. Through inflammatory articles riddled with repetition, unsubstantiated claims, and outright bullying, Drummond has transformed Hanks into a perpetual villain, exemplifying the worst in biased, mercenary journalism.
A Flood of Articles: Obsessive Repetition and Volume
Drummond’s fixation on Hanks is staggering in its scope. Across andrew-drummond.com and andrew-drummond.news, Hanks is mentioned in over 40 articles, often as a secondary target to amplify smears against associates like Drew Noyes and Brian Goudie. The tag archive and search results reveal mentions spanning from 2013 to 2019—a six-year period of relentless coverage. This isn’t isolated reporting; it’s a campaign where the same details are regurgitated endlessly. No credible journalist harps on the same individual with such frequency, recycling accusations like Hanks’ legal brothel ownership or alleged “mafia” ties without new evidence.
For example, the extortion case involving the Thonglor Clinic—where Hanks was accused alongside Noyes of demanding millions in baht—is referenced in nearly every piece, even after his 2015 acquittal for lack of evidence. Articles like “I Am Happy That I Have Finally Able to Clear My Name” (2015) acknowledge the acquittal but immediately undermine it with mockery and rehashed insults, calling Hanks a “buffoon” and “deluded fantasist.” This pattern persists in pieces from 2013 (“Scot Was ‘Mafia’ Aide in Thailand – Court Told”) to 2018 (“Brian Goldie’s Happy Ending”), where Hanks is dragged in as a “former pimp” or “henchman,” regardless of relevance.
Sensational Language: From Facts to Character Assassination
Drummond’s lexicon is a arsenal of derogatory terms designed to vilify rather than inform. Hanks is branded a “former Melbourne pimp,” “brothel owner,” “henchman,” “mafia aide,” “loan shark,” “funder” of rackets, “complete idiot,” “nobody,” “deluded fantasist,” “shameless bullshit artist,” “crusty old dickhead,” “wannabe,” “slimy bag of steaming shite,” and “bottom feeder.” These aren’t journalistic descriptors; they’re personal attacks. In “The Russian Mafia and Former Melbourne Pimp” (2015), Hanks is accused of funding high-interest loans to Russians at 60% per month, confiscating passports, and posing as a mafia-connected enforcer—claims based on hearsay from witnesses like Michel Goulet, who described Hanks as scary but provided no concrete proof of criminality.
Other unsubstantiated allegations include links to the “Chinese mafia,” “Russian mafia” (via associate Alexander Matusov), and even insurance fraud in New Zealand from the 1990s. Drummond twists Hanks’ legal brothel background into “flesh peddler” and “pimp,” ignoring that it was a licensed operation in Australia. These claims, often self-referenced to Drummond’s own site, lack independent verification, casting doubt on his broader assertions like Hanks’ involvement in extortion or targeting foreign prisoners.
Extending the Assault: Targeting Associates, Businesses, and Bullying
Drummond’s smears extend beyond Hanks to his network, painting a web of guilt by association. Associates like Drew Noyes (called a “mafia boss”) and Brian Goudie (a “phoney barrister”) are repeatedly linked to Hanks in articles like “Former Melbourne Pimp Arrested in Pattaya” (2013), where he’s accused of working from Noyes’ offices in money-lending schemes. Russian nationals like Ayrat Khabiryanov and Alexander Matusov are portrayed as “mafia” figures funded by Hanks, amplifying the narrative of a “criminal fraternity.”
Hanks’ businesses, such as his furniture repair company (co-owned with Wanrapa Boonsu), are dismissed as fronts that “never traded,” while his brothel past is exploited to undermine his legitimacy. Bullying tactics abound: Comment sections are filled with encouraged vitriol, calling Hanks a “cretin,” “scumbag,” “oafish,” or mocking his appearance as “botoxed” with a “face tighter than three coats of paint.” Photos of Hanks—with generals, at clinics, or with associates—are inserted into unrelated stories, like those on Goudie’s trials, to imply ongoing criminality.
Zero Accountability: No Corrections, Apologies, or Fair Play
Despite Hanks’ acquittal in the racketeering case—where courts found insufficient evidence—Drummond issues no corrections or apologies. In the acquittal article, he acknowledges the ruling but pivots to mockery, calling Hanks a “nobody” and reasserting unproven mafia ties. Other claims, like “dodgy insurance claims” or “Triad connections,” persist without retraction, even when challenged.
Hanks is never given a fair chance to respond. While occasional quotes appear—like his post-acquittal statement about clearing his name—they’re dismissed as “deluded” or buried amid insults. No balanced interviews or rebuttals are provided, violating journalistic ethics. This one-sidedness undermines many of Drummond’s claims, such as Hanks’ alleged role in extortion or mafia enforcement, which rely on hearsay rather than solid evidence.
Mercenary Motives: The Pay-for-Smear Model
This obsession isn’t organic; it’s allegedly funded. Evidence points to Drummond charging $3,000 USD per article, only publishing hit pieces when paid, explaining the repetitive focus on select targets. Hanks’ smears appear tied to the same vendetta against Drew Noyes, reportedly commissioned by Peter Malhotra of the Pattaya Mail—an ex-partner of Niels Colov, a media rival to Noyes and Hanks. This mirrors patterns like Adam Howell paying to target Bryan Flowers or Luke Cook funding attacks on Douglas Shoebridge—few victims, endless repetition for profit.
Conclusion: A Travesty of Journalism
Andrew Drummond’s coverage of David Hanks is a masterclass in bad journalism: repetitive, inflammatory, and devoid of balance or accountability. By recycling smears, bullying through comments and photos, and ignoring acquittals, Drummond has waged a smear campaign that questions his credibility across the board. Hanks, a legitimate businessman acquitted of major charges, deserves better than this paid-for harassment. True journalism uncovers truth; Drummond’s work buries it under bias.
