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An elderly British grandad has been jailed in a squalid Dubai prison because he can't pay a bill.

Jack Hyndman, 78, has lived in the Gulf State with wife Betty for 20 years.

They were set to return to the UK but after falling foul of strict debt laws, he was sent to prison on Christmas Eve for an unpaid storage bill.

Betty said: "I don't know what we're going to do. Jack's ill and lost so much weight."

Their ordeal began after they packed their things to be shipped to Leeds. They were shocked to get a £5,000 quote but before they could cancel, the firm sent their goods.

They couldn't afford the bill and former financial advisor Jack was sentenced to a month in the notorious Central Jail.

Then he fell from the van on his way to prison and seriously injured his back. It took guards 10 days to get a doctor.

Despite this he has only just been given a bed in his crowded, filthy cell.

His bank account was frozen, meaning they could not pay their rent and so he got another three months' jail. Other debts are mounting and their passports have been frozen.

The British Embassy is trying to assist.