BBC Breakfast Show: Billy Hood Appeal with Radha Stirling, mother Breda and brother Alex
Description
A football coach who was jailed in Dubai after four bottles of vape liquid containing cannabis oil were found in his car has had his sentence reduced. Billy Hood, 24, claims he was forced to sign a confession written in Arabic despite not speaking the language. He was originally jailed for 25 years but had his sentence reduced to 10 years at an Abu Dhabi court on Tuesday, campaign group Detained in Dubai said.
Detained in Dubai chief executive Radha Stirling said Mr Hood was "forced to confess to federal crimes with promises of his imminent release". "He was given both a carrot and a stick, so some prosecutor could get his dues. It's all too familiar a story," she said. "Dubai's overzealous prosecution has ruined this young man's life and put him and his family through hell."
Detained in Dubai chief executive Radha Stirling said Mr Hood was "forced to confess to federal crimes with promises of his imminent release". "He was given both a carrot and a stick, so some prosecutor could get his dues. It's all too familiar a story," she said. "Dubai's overzealous prosecution has ruined this young man's life and put him and his family through hell." The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was "giving consular support to a British man who has been imprisoned in the UAE".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo6nV48d-7w&t=163s
United States
