A SYDNEY grandfather has been jailed and flogged in Saudi Arabia for carrying home brewed beer.

Peter Mutty was arrested for carrying two cartons of home brewed light beer and two cases of homemade red and white wine in his car, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The same crime attracts a sentence of expulsion from the country for other offenders, but the 57-year-old was sentenced to six months imprisonment alongside rapists and murderers in the capital’s Thuqba prison.

Mr Mutty, who had been working as an engineer in Al Khobar told the Telegraph he “knew it was wrong” and accepted his sentence, but was disappointed by the lack of support from the Australian Embassy.

“The Australian Embassy has been absolutely no help and did not even come to see me until I had been in jail for five weeks,” he said.

“It was terrible, it was everything you imagine it would be. I was held with rapists, murderers and killers.”

Along with being held inside the notorious prison, Mr Mutty was reportedly given 28 lashes from a cane before his release last month.

Mr Mutty told the Telegraph he is “trapped in Saudi Arabia”, unable to leave until his case is finalised.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed consular officials are assisting a man in Saudi Arabia but would not comment on the case.

A spokeswoman for human rights group Amnesty International said floggings were common in Saudi Arabia’s ‘justice’ system.

“Saudi Arabia’s courts continue to impose sentences of flogging as punishment for many offences, often following unfair trials,” she said.

“Amputations and cross-amputations are also carried out as punishment for some crimes.”

The spokeswoman went on to say it was difficult for groups like Amnesty to assist people in Saudi Arabia as authorities “continue to deny access”, but said they had not been approached by any lawyers or family members to work on Mr Mutty’s case.