A shamed Russian couple made a grovelling apology after they were caught having sex on a beach.

Tourists Roman Grigorenko, 26, and Daria Vinogradova, 19, had been celebrating New Year's Eve when they left a bar and went to relax by the sea in Pattaya, Thailand.

The pair continued drinking bottles of a beer but they were ''overcome with arousal'' and began romping on the sand.

Police were given footage of the incident and assigned the region's top police officer and five others to catch the couple.

They were arrested and each fined 5,000 Thai Baht (165 USD) - the maximum amount for public indecency.

Speaking at a press conference, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensarn said: ''Such an act destroys the good image of Pattaya as a tourist resort. Officers were immediately dispatched to the beach to look for clues.''

Roman and Daria were identified on CCTV and police used the camera to follow their footsteps to a nearby hotel.

They were both arrested and questioned on suspicion of public indecency.

Footage shows the pair, both wearing surgical masks to hide their faces, making a grovelling apology and following local customs by clasping their hands in a prayer motion.

Roman said: ''I apologise for offending citizens and harming the reputation of the city. We're sorry.''

Pol Lt Col Piyapong Ensarn said the pair were fined and released.

He added: ''Both tourists confessed to be the people in the video clip. Before the incident, both of them traveled to celebrate the New Year. They left a bar on Walking Street then continued to sit on the beach drinking alcohol.

''They said they felt sexual arousal and because they were intoxicated, lost the awareness of where they were and started to have s e x.

''A good citizen saw them and shot a video which he gave to us to follow and make an arrest.''