James Moorhouse
A British father is facing 40 years in prison after allegedly being caught in possession of cocaine in Dubai.
Sam Dorman, a 33-year-old tattoo artist, joined a long list of Brits making the move to the UAE after swapping Derbyshire for Dubai in 2022, so he could start a business.
However, he could soon swap the luxury skyscraper-filled skyline for Al-Awir Central Prison, a jail infamous for its poor conditions and brutality, the same place British teenager Marcus Fakana was sent after sleeping with a 17-year-old girl, despite being just 18 at the time.
Police first arrested Dorman earlier this month after finding half a gram of cocaine in his possession, and a search of his home found a further 28g, according to reports. In the UK, it is estimated that this amount would sell for close to £30k, but in Dubai, it could be three times that, as it is far harder to get ahold of.
Dubai is well-renowned for its zero tolerance policy when it comes to illegal substances such as drugs, and police took action after they discovered that Dorman had allegedly sold this cocaine to a customer of his.
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After apprehending the customer, they used his phone to text Dorman asking for more, which quickly led to his arrest, and he was sentenced to 40 years behind bars on Monday.
Following his sentencing, his family are said to be extremely worried, especially as he has a young daughter back home in the UK.
Speaking to The Sun, a source close to Dorman and his family said: "He’s got a young daughter in the UK, so to be serving 40 years is really sad. He won’t be out till he’s in his 70s. The prison’s a hellhole and Sam’s family are understandably distraught. When they spoke to him, it looked like he’d taken a battering. I just hope someone can help him."
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also told The Sun: "We are supporting a British man detained in Dubai."
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Dorman isn't the first, and certainly won't be the last to run into issues with the law abroad, with an 18-year-old girl recently sentenced to 20 years in jail in Georgia, having been charged with 'illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it'.
Another UK woman was facing up to 60 years in prison after bringing two suitcases filled with cocaine back from Mexico, having been convinced that they were full of cash.