Marcus Fakana’s family accuse David Lammy of failing to help teenager sentenced in Dubai

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The family of a British teenager convicted in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old girl while on holiday has accused the foreign secretary of an “outrageous” refusal to help them. open image in gallery Foreign secretary David Lammy has been accused of refusing to help the family of his constituent Marcus Fakana, who faces a year in jail in Dubai Chief executive Radha Stirling said: “If Marcus Fakana spends a single day in prison, it’s on David Lammy. “He is absolutely fine to see a young British tourist jailed for relations with someone who was one month away from being 18, simply saying you should follow the law.” Mr Fakana’s family previously issued a plea directly to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to spare him a prison term over the sexual encounter, which would be legal in the UK. open image in gallery His family previously issued a plea directly to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to spare Mr Fakana Calling on a boycott of the nation, she added: “I urge young people and parents to reconsider holidays in Dubai where so many people find themselves at risk of unfair and lengthy detention in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and torture.