British national to serve three-year jail term for assaulting Emirati

A 45-year-old British national has been sentenced to three years in jail followed by deportation for assaulting an Emirati man last year, according to a report.

The Briton, who allegedly hit the UAE national on the head with a fire extinguisher, was charged on two counts – physical assault that caused a permanent disability and consuming alcohol without a licence, both of which he admitted to, reported The National.

Also read: British man arrested in Abu Dhabi airport for “insulting the UAE”

The 30-year-old Emirati was reportedly invited to a friend’s birthday bash at a Bur Dubai hotel suite in February last year.

“I asked the birthday man if I could bring a friend with me and he said yes, so I headed to the hotel and knocked on the door,” the man said.

The Briton, who opened the door, apparently questioned the Emirati about his companion.

“I told him he was a friend and that I asked first before bringing him with me but he said I had to pay to get him in, so I threw my wallet in his face,” the Emirati said.

According to the report, the accused then shut the door but returned again with a fire extinguisher and hit the Emirati on the head with it.

The victim suffered a blow to his skull and had to be rushed to the hospital for an emergency operation. He still suffers from epileptic, aggressive and nervous seizures, considered an 80 per cent disability, the report claimed.

The British national defended himself at the Dubai Criminal Court, saying: “It was because he assaulted me.”

Along with the jail term, the accused was also fined Dhs 1,000 and ordered to pay Dhs 21,000 in compensation.

Also read: UAE court sentences husband of ‘Reem Island ghost’ to jail