Briton sentenced to jail in Dubai for allegedly touching a man’s hip is freed after 24 hours The Briton sentenced to three months in a Dubai jail for allegedly touching a man’s hip in a bar has been freed […]

The Briton sentenced to three months in a Dubai jail for allegedly touching a man’s hip in a bar has been freed after just 24 hours, supporters reported Monday.

Jamie Harron, 27, was arrested for public indecency in July after the incident in a crowded nightclub where he claims he was trying to avoid spilling a drink.

He was sentenced to three months in prison on Sunday – but campaigners claim the case against him has now been dropped on orders from the ruler of Dubai.

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Campaign group Detained in Dubai, who have been supporting Mr Harron, Monday announced he will now have his passport returned.

Stranded abroad

A spokesperson said: “Jamie Harron is now on his way to the police station to retrieve his passport, apparently on order from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“Jamie Harron was called by police that the case has been dismissed and he can pick up his passport and is free to leave.”

Mr Harron, an electrician from Stirling, Scotland, was stripped of his documents after his arrest and has been stranded abroad since.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said Jamie was contacted by police Sunday night to say his sentence had been overturned on order from the Sheikh.

She said: “He nervously went to the police station today to get his passport, but he was worried it was going to be a trap to re-arrest him.

“He is very relieved and in shock as he wasn’t expecting this to happen.

“He has to arrange flights home now, but he should be back in Britain imminently.”

A threat to tourism

Ms Stirling said the Sheikh ordered the charges to be dropped “because of so much international pressure and the fact [the case] was affecting their tourism”.

Mr Harron, who worked as an electrician in Afghanistan, was on a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates at the time of the incident on 15 July.

He previously spent a week in prison following his arrest and was later sentenced to a month in prison and fined 2,000 dirhams (£412).

He has lost his job as an electrician and is now in debt after having to spend more than £32,000 in legal bills and expenses.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: “We have been in contact with a British man following his arrest in Dubai in July.

“We are providing consular assistance.”