A married former British army soldier has been arrested in Dubai on suspicion of murder after a prostitute was stabbed to death, MailOnline can reveal

David Reed, 46, has been held in jail for almost a month without charge after the woman suffered a fatal wound in a violent struggle.

The former army medic, from Bristol, has admitted he booked a massage with a woman, who police say was a Nigerian escort worker.

The father-of-four has claimed that three men burst into the room where he was having the massage and attacked him.

He has told police that he acted in self-defence and the woman was fatally stabbed during a fierce struggle on August 4.

David Reed, 46, has been held in jail for almost a month without charge after the woman suffered a fatal wound in a violent struggle

Investigators in Dubai believe he was the victim of a 'shake-down', with the gang demanding money or threatening to blackmail him.

'It is common for prostitutes to work with other people to try and extort money from their clients because prostitution and sex outside marriage is illegal in the country,' said a Dubai Police source.

'From what we understand the suspect said he was acting in self-defence. The matter is still under investigation.'

Reed, who works in Iraq for the Group 4 security firm recruiting paramedics to work in hostile environments, told police he had booked a massage during a 12-hour stop over in Dubai.

He was staying in a hotel room, although Reed is understood to have visited an unlicensed massage parlour.

Reed is held on suspicion of murder and the offence of using the services of a prostitute.

He has told police that he acted in self-defence

The holding charge on the UAE court website reads: 'Habitual practice of immorality or prostitution.'

Two other people who involved in the fight have also been arrested, it is claimed.

A source said: 'David was on his way home but landed in Dubai early in the morning and had to wait until much later to get a flight back to Heathrow.

'He booked a hotel room as he had so much time to wait. He was on his way home and was due to go on a family holiday.

'Booking the massage was the worst mistake of his life but he is not a killer. I am sure he can prove he was in fear of his life.'

Reid's wife Anna, 44, was not with him in Dubai at the time of the incident.

He has spoken to her several times on the phone but a close friend said she had no plans to fly out to Dubai to see her husband.

'As you can imagine Anna is devastated and doesn't know what to think,' said the friend.

'She is of course hoping that he can prove he acted in self-defence.

'Anna is in the process of getting a lawyer and hopefully the company he works for will give some assistance.'

Prior to working for G4S he was a paramedic with South West Ambulance Service for four years from 2010- 2014.

He served as a combat medic with the army from 1991 to 2003 and served in Iraq and Northern Ireland.

Entries on his Linkedin page show that he has worked for US contractors overseas where he was employed to train other medics in combat zones.

A murder charge carries a life sentence in Dubai while using the services of a prostitute can carry a sentence of up to one year in jail.

Legal experts said if he can prove he acted in self defence the charge of murder will be dropped.

A manslaughter charge carries a sentence of seven years but lawyers for Reed will likely argue he was acting in self-defence.

Dubai authorities have recently warned visitors not to use the services of women offering massages as they are often a front for criminal gangs.

Men are lured to illegal massage parlours or flats where once undressed or engaged in sex acts are secretly filmed and blackmailed to hand over money. Other victims are threatened with violence to hand over credit cards or cash.

A judge at Dubai's criminal court said they had seen a marked increase in the number of African women taking part in knifepoint robberies by luring men on the pretence of offering a massage.

He told a local newspaper: 'There has been an increase in the number of cases involving African women who lure men to massage parlours, strip them naked at knifepoint or under threat and assault them. Then they threaten to publish their nude pictures before stealing their cash or credit cards.'

The British Embassy in Dubai have been informed of the arrest and are providing assistance.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: Our staff are offering support and advice to a British man detained in the UAE and his family in the UK.

'We have visited him in prison and are in contact with the prison authorities about his case.'