A British man faces the death penalty in the United Arab Emirates, the Foreign Office has confirmed. A local news report claimed the unnamed Briton is a 21-year-old, who was sentenced in Abu Dhabi alongside a 19-year-old Syrian man for selling an undercover police officer 20g (0.7oz) cannabis worth £262. The Foreign Office was unable to confirm the details of the case, but a spokesman confirmed that it had been contacted . He said: "I can confirm that a British national is facing the death penalty in the UAE.

"We remain in close contact with the British national and his legal team and continue to provide consular assistance."

UAE newspaper the National reported that the man's mother collapsed outside the court after the sentence was passed. It said a Sudanese co-defendant was jailed for a year for taking cannabis, while a 17-year-old Emirati was ordered to undergo rehabilitation.

The UAE's ministry of justice was unavailable for comment.