Dubai indecency accused Jamie Harron back in Scotland

  • Published
Media caption,

Jamie Harron, 27, had faced jail for touching a man's hip in a bar in Dubai

A Scot who faced three months in jail after being found guilty of public indecency in Dubai has arrived back in Glasgow.

Jamie Harron, 27, from Stirling, was allowed home after being exonerated by the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.

Speaking at Glasgow Airport, he described his ordeal as "a shambles".

After spending three and a half months awaiting the outcome of the case he said there was a point when he "didn't see light at the end of the tunnel".

Mr Harron had been sentenced to three months in jail for touching a man's hip in a bar.

This Facebook post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Facebook
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts.
Skip facebook post by Jordan

Allow Facebook content?

This article contains content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Facebook cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts.
End of facebook post by Jordan

He claimed he had simply been trying to avoid spilling his drink when he touched the man.

He had also been accused of drinking alcohol and making a rude gesture towards the businessman who made the complaint.

The charges against him were dropped following the intervention of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Image caption,

Jamie Harron was greeted by family members at Glasgow Airport

Mr Harron was greeted by family members at Glasgow airport on Tuesday night, and his sister Jordan later posted a picture of them together on her Facebook page, saying 'Reunited at last'.

He said: "The whole thing is a shambles. There was no organisation or anything.

"I think I've just been caught up in a bad situation. The man had a power trip.

"I still can't believe it actually happened but I kept positive all the way through."

He praised the organisation Detained in Dubai which campaigned to get him freed.

"They've done very well. They've helped me a lot," he said.

But he admitted he had lost £30,000 fighting the case, as well as his job.

'Good sleep'

Despite his ordeal, Mr Harron said he would go back to Dubai.

"I'm not going back in a hurry but I would go if I was going back through for work because the sheik has cleared everything for me." he said.

He added: "I'm looking forward to a good sleep in my bed. I've been sleeping on my mate's couch for the last three and a half months."

Image source, Detained in Dubai
Image caption,

Jamie Harron had been unable to leave Dubai since July

Mr Harron is understood to be considering a civil action against the businessman who made the complaint and his employers.

Mr Harron was arrested in July and charged with public indecency.

The man who made the complaint against Mr Harron later withdrew it, but prosecutors in Dubai continued with the case.

Mr Harron, who worked as an electrician in Afghanistan, was on a two-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates at the time of the incident.