DUBAI // Four children aged between one and two years old will spend the next five months of their lives in prison after their mothers were found guilty of immigration offences.

The mothers of Princess, Angel, Sofia and Angel-Joy, were arrested on December 13 last year after police received a tip-off they were living illegally.

Upon their arrest police discovered the four girls, each of whom had been born out of wedlock.

The women told the Misdemeanours Court today that they arrived in the country three years ago to work for different sponsors, but each became unhappy and fled shortly after.

They then lived together in Al Satwa and started working part time. Each had a boyfriend, but all were abandoned by their lovers when they became pregnant.

The women said they gave birth at their home with the help of the others as they feared they would be arrested if they went to hospital.

The Misdemeanours Court found M?K, 32, K?A, 29, S?T, 30, and S?J, 38, all guilty of having sex outside of wedlock, residing illegally in the country after their visas expired and absconding from their sponsors.

The court sentenced each of the Filipinas to five months in prison to be followed by deportation.

salamir@thenational.ae