Dubai trial for Briton, 18, over sex with girl, 17

A date has been set for the Dubai trial of an 18-year-old Briton who had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl in the emirate while the pair were on holiday with their families, Dubai's office of public prosecution says.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, began a secretive holiday romance in September with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, according to UK-based campaign group Detained in Dubai.

The government of Dubai said: "Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor, and in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother - being the legal guardian - filed the complaint."

The trial is set to take place on 9 December.

Dubai's office of public prosecution said this was "at the request of the defendant’s legal counsel".

It added: "Dubai’s legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings."

On Thursday, Radha Stirling of UK-based campaign group Detained in Dubai said the girl's mother - after returning home and seeing pictures and chats on her daughter's phone - had reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Mr Fakana at his hotel.

Ms Stirling, the founder and chief executive of Detained in Dubai, which helps foreigners abroad and is an international authority on UAE law, said Mr Fakana and his parents were "extremely distressed" by the events.

She described the case to BBC London as "unique" because "the age difference is so small" between the two people involved in the case.

She continued: "This is clearly just a case of two older teenagers, both of them now the same age, who have been caught up because a mother reported the behaviour."

Ms Stirling added Mr Fakana's parents had had to return home to London.

Mr Fakana previously said: "I pray this nightmare will be over and I’ll be home for Christmas."

A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson has said: “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family.”

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