British coach sentenced to four years in Dubai jail

Dubai: A British coach faces four years in jail after pleading guilty to possessing and consuming drugs.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced the 31-year-old Briton to four years in jail after Presiding Judge Adel Abdul Rahim pronounced him guilty of possessing and consuming cocaine.

The man will be deported, according to the primary judgment, after the completion of his jail term.

When the coach, M.D., appeared before a special drugs tribunal [set up temporarily to handle 37 pending drug cases last month during the summer judicial holiday] he pleaded guilty.

Prosecutors accused M.D. of possessing 5.23 grammes of cocaine (in a transparent nylon sack] with the intention to use it.