NEWS
BRIT JAILED IN DUBAI IS
‘ VIOLENTLY ASSAULTED ’
BY PRISON GUARDS
Football coach Billy Hood is serving a ten year jail term after CBD vape oil was found in his car by police .
Words : Patrick Griffin
A British football coach jailed in Dubai after CBD vape cartridges were found in his car , was allegedly beaten in prison while Prince William visited the city .
Billy Hood , 25 , is said to have been ‘ violently assaulted ’ by four prison guards after he hit his cell wall in frustration , according to human rights group Detained in Dubai .
The former semi-pro footballer from London had been living in Dubai where he taught soccer skills to youngsters . He had previously been told his appeal against his ten year sentence had been denied .
Billy has always maintained that the vape liquid had been accidentally left in his car by a friend visiting from the UK and says he was forced to sign a confession written in Arabic after being beaten by police .
Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai said : “ It is abhorrent and truly shocking that the United Arab Emirates , our ally , has refused to cease the mistreatment , abuse and torture of British citizens .”
Billy ’ s brother Alex said : “ I am disgusted that the UK would ever allow this to happen to a British citizen and that they have not already intervened .
“ British MPs have called for sanctions and travel warnings and this is exactly what is needed to finally end this mediaeval treatment .”
Billy ’ s distraught mother Breda has called on Prince William to promote human rights in the UAE and step in to help her son .
She said : “ I implore Prince William to help my son and the other British nationals in prison .
“ My son is in jail for something he didn ’ t do . He ’ s being beaten in a foreign jail because his friend left CBD oil in his car . What kind of a system is this ?
“ We are angry that Billy is still in jail and angry that any British national can be beaten without consequence . We won ’ t stand for it . We won ’ t be bullied and we will escalate this to the highest authorities .”
Detained in Dubai has called for urgent meetings with the Foreign Secretary to discuss Billy ’ s case and plans to file a complaint against his detention with the United Nations .
Ms Stirling added : “ Unfair detention and human rights violations must be dealt with by foreign governments and it is time that the UAE was held to account for the ongoing abuse of individuals in detention .”
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