Marcus Fakana gets prison sentence in Dubai.

I dont imagine she'll be going back.

An 18 year old probably didn’t appreciate that strict meant they had what would be seen as an extremely outdated view in Europe and could result in a custodial sentence- to European eyes it’s so fucking ludicrous I wouldn’t anticipate any 18 year old would think that this would be the consequence.

Why anyone chooses to holiday in these places where a slight misstep can get all manner of medieval sentences (by European standards) god only knows.

Are you really going to do this as an 18 year old boy going on holiday with your family?

Come on now.

I think I would prefer my freedom.

I am sure he would too.

This is my view too - I cannot imagine doing something so evil.

I also read that at first she wanted to make a false rape allegation - but when she realised that would not work and learned what the laws on age of consent were - she reported him for that instead.

Imagine being so wicked

"his poor parents aren’t well off"

He's a lot better off than he was, considering £35,000 has been raised for him, so far.

If you visit a country you must abide by its laws. He should not have embarked on a romance with an under age girl and must take the consequences. His parents could ask the Foreign Office to request the young man's return to serve his sentence in the UK - though I am not sure that would be any better.
What happened, however, is also a warning about visiting countries with retarded laws - never visit Dubai, or anywhere like it.

The Mum is from Dubai she isn't from London.

Yes - but a bit of empathy. He probably did not dig too deeply to realise that an 18 year old having sex with a 17 year old would result in a year in jail.

I’m gobsmaked why anyone goes to a country like Dubai - their laws are draconian by modern western standards. It wasn’t long ago that a man was charged for brushing past another man accidentally in a crowded bar!

If you go to a country abide by their laws. Just be aware that some laws reflect European laws of 1230.

His parents had no idea what Dubai is. They are lied to, the way the entire world lies about this place. David Lammy is a disgace.

This is such an awful story - and really strong evidence of why people need to be so careful in these countries.

People see Dubai as this fun place but the laws are harsh if you break them. It’s not Magaluf or Ayia Napa. The UAE is a conservative Islamic country. And I wish more people realised that when going there on holiday.

A holiday fling between two teenagers with a few months apart should not have ended like this and in most European countries it would not have.

Also I wish all the worse things on the mother of the teenaged girl involved whose racism was the trigger for all of this. What a disgusting woman.

(Also just stay away from people with strict families like this. I know young men think with their penises but he should have known a family like this would not take this lying down.)

I also think the girl is fairly despicable - she would surely have needed to support the mother’s complaint and I would have denied it.

I think the same - have sympathy for him at 18 but still at school ( I believe ) on a family holiday ie one he probably had little input on destination - while still seeing he broke the law of that country .

Any other girl with any other family from UK ( think both are from London) likely no-one would have known and wouldn't have been reported to authorities.

I suspect he didn't appreciate the risk he was taking and he was very unlucky he was reported but he did break their laws and this outcome is bad but could have been much worse which is sobering - and I expect his parents are terrified and have some guilt as they perhaps didn't think this could happen either.

He said: 'We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict.

'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.

Sounds like he knew they were strict when they met, probably not as unforseen in a country with strict laws around this as some are making out.

Wow I stand corrected, even worse.

Yeah sorry that was auposed to be two different answers ! Apologies

1 year is incredibly light for what is effectively having sex with a minor in a country with far stricter rules then here

BUT the parents should also be liable for not watching their kids (ie. The girls parents as they were the ones who reported it) as it's obviously a spite thing

The mother of the girl is a vindictive evil cow.

@LoveIsLikeAFartIfYouHaveToPushItsUsuallyShit

I didn't say that was the crime, I was just explaining what extramarital means.

I agree with a PP, I'd be very surprised if there wasn't a racial angle to this - whether the girl's mother's behaviour, the prosecuting authorities or both. BAME friends who have travelled to Dubai have not had good experiences - nothing on this scale, but plenty of casual racism.

Arguably, if you are old enough to have sex, you are old enough to deal with the practical or legal consequences of having sex. My guess though is that the young man will be pardoned and sent home within a few weeks.

For those saying you should check the rules in other countries, I assume if DC went to Greece or Spain I probably wouldn't have checked, assumed similar to UK, but with respect to Dubai or similar I would have trawled through the rules, as know how strict and horrendous they can be if you break the law (wouldn't encourage DC to go to places like that). However, I guess if you are in a Western hotel/gated community you could probably forget that you are governed by much stricter rules than in UK

Agree. Plus the girl is now 18. I hope she speaks out against her mother on this.
From reading previously about this apparently the mother is originally from Dubai and knew exactly what she was doing by reporting him. Very spiteful and vindictive behaviour.

I feel for him it’s appalling.
But can people stop going to these appalling countries?

The moment I hear someone has been to Dubai it tells me everything I need to know about them.