British teenager, 18, facing 20 years in UAE prison over romance

A British teenager accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl who was just a few months younger than him while on holiday in Dubai faces an agonising wait to find out if he will be jailed for up to 20 years - or allowed to fly home.

Marcus Fakana had a weeklong holiday romance with the girl, also British, but was arrested and detained after her mother complained to the Dubai police.

The 18-year-old has been banned from leaving the country for four months and on Monday went on trial on a charge of underage sex.

His lawyer argued for his release, but a judge at Dubai's First Court of Instance said they would announce their verdict later this week.

A family source said delaying the verdict meant the agony for Marcus continues and he is desperate to return home.

'This is just agony for Marcus and his ordeal is dragging on,' said a source close to the family.

'He now has to wait for the outcome of the trial and the judges have not given any indication of what they will rule.'

Fakana, from London, faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

He was arrested in August after the mother of the teen he was involved with filed a complaint about Fakana to the Dubai authorities on her return to the UK.

She had checked her daughter's phone and discovered they had been sleeping together. Since returning from Dubai the girl has turned 18.

Under UAE law only tourists aged over 18 are legally allowed to sleep together.

In the UK he would not have considered to have committed any crime.

The police investigation revealed that the sex between the pair was consensual after they examined all the messages the pair had exchanged.

They have also recovered CCTV footage from Dubai hotels that show the couple together.

Marcus has previously told how the couple had planned to see each other when they got home.

Marcus 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.

'When she left, I couldn't wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door.

'They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn't tell me why. I couldn't imagine what for. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.'

After his detention the teen's distraught family appealed to the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is also their local MP, as well as the ruler of Dubai to try and secure his release.

A Go Fund me page set up by the family has raised over £33,000 with the money being used to pay for Marcus's accommodation and legal fees.

Detained in Dubai, who have been helping in his case, claimed that the authorities deliberately noted his age wrong and also his nationality. He was listed as being 19 years of age and from Pakistan.

Radha Sterling claimed this was a deliberate act so that the offence – with a two-year age gap - would carry a much harsher sentence.

Since his arrest Marcus, a construction apprentice, has been staying in a rented flat and was said to be 'too scared' to venture out.

In setting up the Go Fund me page the family wrote: 'Our son (Marcus) went to the UAE to celebrate his father's birthday and join a family reunion. What was meant to be a happy time has turned into a nightmare for him, our family, and our friends.

'This has happened as a result of someone trying to misuse UAE law against him. He is being charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

'He is only 18 years old, very scared, and his mental health is starting to decline. We've done all we can to fight for his freedom, but now we urgently need to raise at least £20,000 to work on getting him back home.

'We've already spent as much as we can on legal help and his housing needs while he stays to fight his case. We're trying our best, but we are struggling with the funds to continue this fight. The legal system in Dubai is very different and from the UK and very expensive which makes this whole ordeal even more challenging.'

Radha Stirling from Detained in Dubai said Marcus will find out in the next three days the decision of the court.