THE parents of a young English teacher stabbed to death in Thailand have made a passionate plea for leniency for the woman accused of killing him.

Paul Mason, aged 27, had only been in Bangkok five days when he was brutally stabbed in the chest in the apartment he shared with his girlfriend Surasada Tabtim.

She was also discovered with stab wounds. Police later arrested 23-year-old Tabtim, who Paul had been teaching English, and charged her with murder.

If found guilty, she could face the death penalty.

Today, Paul's devastated parents, Les and Jean Mason, were trying to come to terms with the loss of their youngest son at their Bury home.

Paul set off for Thailand on February 10 after the couple bought his plane ticket for him for Christmas.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Mason, aged 55, of Falmer Close, Brandlesholme, said: "We have made our feelings known to the British Embassy that we would not want Tabtim to be put to death if she was found guilty."

A former Bury Grammar School pupil, Paul graduated from Staffordshire University in Stoke in 1998 with a degree in English. He went on to do his teacher training in London before coming back to his family home in Bury.

In 2000, he took a job with UK Construction Magazine in Bolton as a production assistant which helped to pay for his holidays in Thailand.

During three previous trips to Thailand, he met Tabtim and the pair struck up a friendship.

Les, aged 60, a retired civil servant, said: "Paul loved travelling and always wanted to go to Thailand to teach English.

"He had a visa for three months and wanted to stay for a year. He loved Thai people and their way of life.

"I spoke to Tabtim on the phone once. She said Paul was teaching her English and had bought her a dictionary."

Mr Mason said: "I only spoke to Paul the day before he was killed.

"He said he was enjoying himself and was full of high spirits. He was so full of life and would do anything for anyone.

"We are absolutely devastated and lost for words.

"Paul was a kind, good-hearted soul who's message was love and peace to everyone.

"He was a great son who will be sorely missed."

Mr Mason added: "We want to know what happened but do not seek revenge."

Paul's older brother Mark, aged 30, will fly out to Bangkok to oversee the return of his body. The 30-year-old prison guard added: "He was the best brother in the world. It still hasn't sunk in yet. We are still in a state of shock."