A British woman could face life in prison in Dubai after being arrested on suspicion of drug offences there.
The Liverpool Echo reports that 25-year-old Antonia Bettridge moved to Dubai in November 2023 and worked as a sports coach and personal trainer.
Legal experts from Detained In Dubai, an organisation which helps people who end up in legal trouble in the country, say she has since been arrested on suspicion of ‘possession of narcotics with intent to promote’, which in Dubai can result in a hefty fine and a life sentence.
Detained in Dubai said authorities in the Middle Eastern country don’t need evidence of intention to promote or sell to take action.
Antonia’s mum also spoke up to say she was ‘worried sick’ and ‘devastated’ for her daughter.
The 25-year-old Brit was arrested in Dubai (Christopher Pike/Getty Images)
“Antonia’s whole life revolves around fitness and healthy living,” her mum said.
“She doesn’t live a party lifestyle. She moved to Dubai to build something positive for herself. We are devastated and just want clarity about what has happened.”
“With everything happening in the region at the moment, it is incredibly frightening knowing our daughter is in detention and we cannot reach her.
“We are worried sick. We just want her to be safe and to have the opportunity to prepare her defence properly.”
Detained in Dubai boss Radha Stirling said: “When there is regional instability or security incidents, families naturally become even more concerned about loved ones who are already in a vulnerable situation.”
Since Iran first launched retaliatory strikes on UAE, three people have died and 94 have been injured, the Khaleej Times reports.
Abu Dhabi’s Zayed airport and Dubai International have been targeted, with missile and drone strikes grounding flights.
The UK Foreign Office has advised Brits in UAE to ‘remain inside’ and ‘stay away from windows’
Antonia Bettridge has been arrested in Dubai and if convicted could spend life in prison (Facebook)
Stirling continued: “It reinforces why allowing defendants to prepare their cases from outside detention, where appropriate, is so important.
“We hope the FCDO supports her application for bail pending any trial at the very least.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities.”
The Echo also reported that in September 2023 Bettridge had appeared before Liverpool Crown Court and was convicted of being in possession of criminal property after the police found £8,000 in her glove box.
She had been pulled over by police in 2021 and claimed not to have any money on her, but officers found £610 in her handbag and thousands in her car.
Investigators later learned she had driven 170 miles from her then-home in Dentons Green to a service station near Bristol before beginning the drive home.
After admitting to possessing criminal property, she was given a 12-month community order – including 75 hours of unpaid work – and told to pay £1,200 court costs.
Antonia is far from the first Brit to face decades in prison in Dubai, with UAE operating strict laws around drugs and sex.
Mia O’Brien
Mia O’Brien faced up to 25 years in a Dubai jail (GoFundMe)
Mia was jailed last year after police said they had found her in possession of 50g of cocaine.
The 24-year-old dreamed of being a solicitor, but was facing up to 25 years in jail, plus an £100,000 fine.
Thankfully, she was handed a pardon in December, with her mum describing it as a ‘Christmas miracle’.
Marcus Fakana
Marcus Fakana tragically died three months after he was released from Dubai (Handout)
Marcus, 19, was jailed for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old while on holiday in Dubai.
His girlfriend’s family was based in the UK, but her mother reported Marcus to the police in Dubai when she found out about the relationship.
There is no age of consent in Dubai and all sex outside of marriage is illegal.
Fakana was facing 20 years in jail, was sentenced to one year behind bars last year, but received a royal pardon and was allowed to return to the UK months later.
Tragically, he died in October in a traffic collision, just three months after his release.
Albert Douglas
Albert Douglas spent four years in a Dubai prison (Detained in Dubai)
Albert, 63, spent four years in a Dubai prison, having been jailed in 2021 over his son’s company’s bounced cheques – despite evidence that he was innocent.
He also claimed he had been beaten by police and starved while in jail.
He was allowed to return to the UK in December last year after the United Nations ruled he had been arbitrarily detained.
