British tourist, 18, faces prison in Dubai after fling with girl, 17, he met on holiday

An 18-year-old British tourist is facing a 20-year prison sentence in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old British girl during a holiday.

Londoner Marcus Fakana from Tottenham had a “wonderful time” with the girl, who he met in Dubai in August.

The couple had to meet in secret because the girl could not tell her “strict” mother she was seeing a boy.

“We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” said Fakana.

He added: “My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.”

The pair were hoping to continue their relationship back in London.

However, the mother found out and called the police on the 18-year-old, leading to his arrest.

Speaking to the organisation Detained in Dubai, Fakana said: “When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door.”

He described feeling “frightened” as the police took him away for questioning.

He was held in the notorious Al Barsha Police Station for three days and now faces two decades behind bars.

Dubai has recently reformed its laws on sex outside marriage for tourists, however still upholds a strict Islamic legal system with no firm ruling on the age of consent.

Under the law there, a child is anyone under 18 years of age. However, the relationship between the two would be legal in the UK.

Radha Stirling from Detained in Dubai said the mother was clearly very “strict” to involve authorities in a private matter that would be legal in her home country.

“Perhaps she wasn’t aware that she triggered the possibility of a young man of only 18 spending the next 20 years in prison,” Stirling said.

The 18-year-old’s parents are now stuck in Dubai trying to save their son. The police initially demanded 10,000 AED (£2,152) for bail and the prices keep going up.

“My mother is a cleaner and my dad works in a warehouse. They saved up for this one-off holiday and they have now used all of their savings,” said Fakana.

He said he hopes this “nightmare” will end soon and he can be home for Christmas.

The family has called on British Foreign Secretary David Lammy for help.

Rahda Stirling said: “Dubai police have the power to drop the case against Marcus and let him come home.”

“This is not something we want to do to young people and we ask Mr Lammy MP to convey this message to his counterparts in the UAE.”