Briton Jamie Harron faces jail for touching man in Dubai bar

Jamie Harron, a 27-year-old electrician, from Stirling, has been stuck in the UAE since July after his passport was confiscated by authorities.

He was initially locked up in Al Barsha prison for five days before being released on bail.

Since then he has reportedly been forced to spend more than £30,000 in expenses and legal fees. The incident led to him being arrested for public indecency & a second charge relating to the drinking of alcohol.

The chief executive of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, said: "It is quite outrageous that he has been held in the country for so long already.

This is another example of how vulnerable tourists are to arrest and detention in Dubai and at how drawn out and disorganised legal proceedings are."

He is said to have held a hand in front of himself to prevent his drink spilling on anyone as he walked through the busy bar. In the process, he "touched a man on his hip to avoid impact", before moving on and sitting down at a table with a friend.

Ms Stirling said "He was expecting to appear in court this Sunday, but the court moved the date without telling him or his lawyer," she said. "This led to a sentence of 30 days' imprisonment for failing to present himself at the hearing."

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We have been in contact with a British man following his arrest in Dubai in July. We are providing consular assistance."

UCJ, UNILORIN.