British Electrician Jamie Harron Has Been Sentenced To Three Months In Dubai Prison

Jamie Harron will spend the next three months inside a Dubai prison after he was sentenced for touching a man's hip at a bar. The Scottish electrician was arrested in July, following accusations he put his hand on a businessman's hip to avoid spilling a drink, and was charged with 'public indecency'.

While his accuser dopped the complaint, prosecutors pushed forward with the case and Harron was facing the prospect of three years behind bars. Lawyers for the 27-year-old say they will appeal the sentence and have two weeks to lodge their application.

Campaign group Detained in Dubai say Jamie is angry and disappointed by the outcome, however he's dreading 'what may happen next' in jail. It hasn't been a cheap affair either, with Harron forking out more than £32,000 ($42,216) in legal fees since the ordeal began.

Credit: SWNS

He was only in the United Arab Emirates for two days after completing a work trip in Afghanistan. Jamie says he was thrown into jail without being told what the charge was.

Although tourists are allowed to drink alcohol at licensed venues in Dubai, they can still be arrested for having alcohol in their system.

Jamie said: "I am really stunned that it has gone that far. I cannot believe I am facing these allegations when I followed the laws in their entirety."

He was eventually released on bail, but had his travel documents confiscated and claims there was a secret hearing about his case, which he missed, leading to more legal dramas.

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"I have been waiting for months to appear and now it looks as though I will be arrested when I go to the hearing.

"It is completely unfair and I can't understand how I can be sentenced for failing to appear when I was not even informed of the hearing."

To make matters worse, his sister claims people have broken into his garage, writing on Facebook: "So to add to Jamie's ordeal. His garage has now been broken into with a saw, things stolen one of which his good bike! Police been phoned but can everyone please share! Find out who this low life scum is."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: 'We have been in contact with a British man following his arrest in Dubai in July. We are providing consular assistance'.

Sources: SWNS