An 18-year-old British teenager has been sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

The teenager was on holiday with his family in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when he met the girl — who is now 18 — at the same hotel.

The teenagers who are both from London were said to have made plans to continue their romance when they returned to the UK.

Detained in Dubai, a group of UAE legal experts, said the young man was charged because the girl’s mother found their chats and pictures back in the UK. The woman subsequently contacted police in Dubai and he was arrested.

The head of the campaign group Detained In Dubai, who recently announced the teenager’s sentence, described the judgment an “utter disgrace”.

“The UK was once the most diplomatically influential western country in the Middle East. Now, we are seeing countries like Canada, Malaysia, Ireland and the US leaving the UK way behind,” Radha Stirling, the group’s founder, wrote on X.

“The Labour government should be ashamed they have not secured the freedom of a teenage tourist. It wasn’t a difficult job.”

She said the boy, who has been held in Dubai since September, would appeal against his sentence and was “desperately hoping to come home this week”.

“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,” Stirling added.

In Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18 they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted parcels of illicit drugs concealed within equipment in Lagos.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, shared videos of the seized contraband on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

The NDLEA warned travellers to exercise caution when accepting luggage or items from others, as they may be unaware of the contents.

“Drug concealments NDLEA officers find these days are enough to make you suspect ANYONE asking you to deliver a package when travelling or collect anything from abroad at any logistics or courier service. E GET WHY. This video shows the latest seizure by NDLEA in Lagos,” Babafemi wrote in his post.

A crypto trader has been convicted of murdering his mother to claim over $1 million in life insurance payouts and sustain the illusion of a “perfect life,” a court has revealed.

Colleen Rebelo, 58, was found dead in her bathroom on May 25, 2020, at her home in Perth, Australia. Her youngest son discovered her lifeless body in the shower.

Investigations uncovered that her son, Andre Zachary Rebelo, had taken out three separate life insurance policies totaling $1.2 million AUD (£500,000) against his mother just a week before her death, naming himself as the sole beneficiary.

Despite the sudden and unexpected nature of Ms. Rebelo’s death, first responders did not suspect foul play, and an autopsy failed to determine the cause of death.

At the time, Rebelo and his then-partner, Instagram influencer Grace Piscopo—who boasts over one million followers—portrayed an extravagant lifestyle on social media, sharing images of luxurious holidays, flashy cars, and indulgent experiences.

However, the court heard that the couple was secretly grappling with financial difficulties, amassing debts exceeding $120,000 AUD.

Just days after Ms. Rebelo’s death, Rebelo, 28, aggressively pursued insurance companies for payouts, including a $500,000 AUD (£252,000) policy. To secure the claims, he submitted fabricated health and death records, forged copies of his mother’s medical documents and coroner’s report, and even used an AI-generated voice to impersonate Ms. Rebelo’s psychologist in a voicemail to the insurer.

Years later, an insurance company employee flagged the case, suspecting Rebelo of fraudulently attempting to claim life insurance.

Following the tip-off, police launched an investigation into the circumstances of Ms. Rebelo’s death. In 2022, her son was arrested and charged with her murder, which the jury has now found him guilty of committing.