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| Britons jailed for four years in Dubai on drug offences | Britons jailed for four years in Dubai on drug offences |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three British men have been found guilty of drug offences in Dubai and jailed for four years each. | Three British men have been found guilty of drug offences in Dubai and jailed for four years each. |
| Londoners Suneet Jeerh, Grant Cameron and Karl Williams, who denied the charges, will be deported afterwards. | Londoners Suneet Jeerh, Grant Cameron and Karl Williams, who denied the charges, will be deported afterwards. |
| The three men, who were charged with possessing, taking and intending to distribute illegal drugs, were arrested on holiday in July. | |
| Cameron's mother Tracy said they were "really happy" the supply charges had been dropped. | Cameron's mother Tracy said they were "really happy" the supply charges had been dropped. |
| Harsher sentences had been expected for Jeerh, 25, Cameron, 25, and Williams, 26, who were arrested after police said they found a quantity of synthetic cannabis known as "spice" in their car. | Harsher sentences had been expected for Jeerh, 25, Cameron, 25, and Williams, 26, who were arrested after police said they found a quantity of synthetic cannabis known as "spice" in their car. |
| UK Prime Minister David Cameron had expressed concern over allegations they were tortured while in custody. | UK Prime Minister David Cameron had expressed concern over allegations they were tortured while in custody. |
| Torture concerns | Torture concerns |
| The BBC's Simon Atkinson, in Dubai, said the three men, dressed in white prison overalls, made a very brief appearance at Dubai's criminal court. | The BBC's Simon Atkinson, in Dubai, said the three men, dressed in white prison overalls, made a very brief appearance at Dubai's criminal court. |
| He said they were given their sentences and told they would be deported from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after serving them. | He said they were given their sentences and told they would be deported from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), after serving them. |
| The men say they were subjected to torture by police, including electric shocks and beatings. Police in Dubai have denied any wrongdoing. | The men say they were subjected to torture by police, including electric shocks and beatings. Police in Dubai have denied any wrongdoing. |
| Legal rights charity Reprieve has taken on their case. Investigator Kate Higham said the drug supply charges were dropped entirely. | Legal rights charity Reprieve has taken on their case. Investigator Kate Higham said the drug supply charges were dropped entirely. |
| "The boys all got four years for consumption. While we are pleased with this result we will continue to push for the men's release and return in light of the torture they have suffered," she said. | "The boys all got four years for consumption. While we are pleased with this result we will continue to push for the men's release and return in light of the torture they have suffered," she said. |
| "David Cameron must push for this when UAE President Sheikh Khalifa arrives on a state visit." | |
| In a letter to Reprieve, David Cameron has said he will use a state visit by the UAE president this week to raise his concerns about the case. | In a letter to Reprieve, David Cameron has said he will use a state visit by the UAE president this week to raise his concerns about the case. |
| Mr Cameron wrote: "We continue to press for evidence for a full, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations. The absence of an independent medical examination remains a concern. | Mr Cameron wrote: "We continue to press for evidence for a full, impartial and independent investigation into the allegations. The absence of an independent medical examination remains a concern. |
| "During the state visit of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan there will be opportunities to raise a wide range of issues including concerns about this and other consular cases." | "During the state visit of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan there will be opportunities to raise a wide range of issues including concerns about this and other consular cases." |
| The men say they had guns held to their heads by police. Williams also said he had electric shocks administered to his testicles. | The men say they had guns held to their heads by police. Williams also said he had electric shocks administered to his testicles. |
| It is claimed the torture took place in the desert, where the men were initially taken after their arrest, and subsequently in hotel rooms. | |
| Grant Cameron's mother, Tracy, said her son and his friends were put through "a pretty terrifying ordeal". | |
| "They were taken back to their hotel room, they were beaten in their hotel room, it does appear they were separated from each other and each taken to a different room," she told the BBC. | "They were taken back to their hotel room, they were beaten in their hotel room, it does appear they were separated from each other and each taken to a different room," she told the BBC. |
| "Karl was laid out on the bed, his trousers were stripped down and electric shocks were administered to his testicles while he was blindfolded. | "Karl was laid out on the bed, his trousers were stripped down and electric shocks were administered to his testicles while he was blindfolded. |
| "I believe all the boys had guns held to their head - they were told they were going to die." | "I believe all the boys had guns held to their head - they were told they were going to die." |
| Suneet Jeerh's sister, Davena Kumar, told the BBC her brother was given electric shock treatment. | |
| "His whole spine was electrocuted quite badly. Even now you can see where his back is still not the same," she said. "He still suffers from back pain." | |
| Reprieve says the men were forced to sign documents in Arabic - a language none of them understands - before being charged. | |
| Williams and Cameron are both from Wanstead, in north-east London, while Jeerh is from Ilford, east London. |