A hulking, tattooed New Zealander has been questioned by police in Thailand after allegedly stabbing a Canadian teacher.

Timothy John Ward, 47, is believed to have stabbed Shaun Ohonny, 43, on a South Pattaya beach, Pattaya Daily News reported.

Ward is also known as Tim Sharky and posted on his Facebook profile provided his version of events.

"The Police Lieutenant Colonel asked me why I stabbed the man.. ""Well sir.. That's because I didn't have a gun ...".

Ward ran away after the incident and hid in his hotel room, the newspaper reported.

Ward claimed he stabbed the teacher after he and his friends insulted him.

He told police that he was unemployed and “big” because he had done weight training for a long time.

Ohonny was apparently hospitalised after sustaining a deep knife wound in his left lower arm.

He told police that he had been chatting with friends on the beach when Ward approached the group, the newspaper reported.

A fight broke out and Ward allegedly stabbed Ohonny, before running away.

Witnesses said Ward often walked the beach and threatened tourists.

Ward was arrested at his apartment, where police found two knives. He apparently told police that he had fought with Ohonny but didn't stab him.

Ward is understood to be a former loan shark who had lived on Australia's Gold Cost but now resides mostly in Thailand.

On his MySpace page he said he grew up in New Zealand living in orphanages.

He has the words "self made" tattooed across his knuckles. He has many photos of sports cars with the number plate "shark" posted on his page.

In 2002 the Supreme Court of Queensland ordered Ward to pay $270,000 in fines related to many of his loan contracts not being in compliance with the law.

His company Shark Financial Services Pty Ltd was prohibited from providing consumer credit on the ground that he provided consumer credit unfairly and repeatedly engaged in unjust conduct.

He was recorded threatening and intimidating clients.

- © Fairfax NZ News