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A British dad battling cancer is trapped in the UAE after being arrested for anti-anxiety medication because a customs officer said he had too many pills, it has been claimed.

Perry Coppins, 61, a maritime security officer from Nottingham, was named as having told authorities he needed enough pills to last him for his six-month voyage at sea.

The arrest is said to have occurred in November during a luggage check at the port of Fujairah, east of Dubai, when the father-of-three's prescription paper work was not accepted.

It has been claimed he was jailed for five weeks before his first court appearance and denied medicine in jail as his psychological condition deterioated.

(Image: iStock Editorial)

London-based justice group Detained in Dubai have tonight said he has now been bailed - but has been stuck in Dubai after his passport had been confiscated.

Chief executive Radha Stirling said Mr Coppins had been diagnosed with prostate cancer since the arrest but was being denied medication and treatment.

She claimed this has led to Mr Coppins losing 20kg and suffering hallucinations, pain, stress and blindness.

He has lost his job, is unable to work and earn money, and is at risk of becoming homeless as he waits up to 18 months for the court process to finish, Ms Stirling said.

She added: "Because he has not had the treatment he needs, he now needs an operation to save his life.

"This is also being denied by the UAE authorities."

Asked about the case, a Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesman said: " We have been providing consular assistance to a British man following his arrest in Dubai in November and are in contact with the Dubai authorities."

Detained in Dubai said Mr Coppins has been taking Temazepam, Clonazepam and Citalopram prescribed by his GP for the past 21 years.

He had two daughters Pia, 24, and Mia, 10, and son, Cameron, 21, back home in the UK, the group said.

In a statement released by the group, Pia said: "It’s so cruel. Nobody should be treated like this.

"He is not a young man and he needs medical help to cope with his anxiety. Not being allowed his cancer treatment is like giving him a death sentence.

"Does human life mean nothing to those people?”

In a statement, the group quoted his ex wife Lesley as saying: "Perry and I spilt up, but he is a good man who loves his kids.

"I really hope the Dubai authorities decide to do the humane thing and let him free.

"Those medicines are taken by millions of people. He needs them to function.”

Ms Stirling said: “UAE laws on medicines are often vague and front-line law enforcement officials are frequently unaware of exactly what the rules permit or prohibit; so they make uneducated, arbitrary judgement calls.

“In fact the 3 medications which Perry possessed, are all legal in the UAE, provided the patient has prescription documentation, which Perry has.

"The initial mistake of the customs officer should never have escalated into criminal charges; but this reveals the lack of cohesion within the legal system, and what appears to be the capriciousness of the Public Prosecutor’s office.

“Perry needs urgent treatment for his prostate cancer.

"To deny him this in a timely fashion is an absolute violation of his human rights.

"We hope that the UAE will show compassion to Perry and his children, and release him immediately, so that he can return home for the medical treatment he needs.”