Dubai: A woman visitor has been jailed for three years for working in prostitution and having paid sex with a plumber, who stole her purse that contained her valuables.

The 26-year-old Afghan plumber, A.M., was jailed for two years for having consensual sex with the 23-year-old Tajik woman, K.T., and forcing his way into her flat and stealing her purse that contained cash and personal belongings in July.

The couple were said to have had paid sex a number of times before A.M. trespassed into K.T.’s flat without her consent, beat her and stole her purse.

The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced A.M. to one year for trespassing into the woman’s flat and stealing her purse that contained Dh2,700, a Dh3,400 iPhone 6 and other valuables.

Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal also handed him one more year in jail for having consensual sex with K.T.

According to Sunday’s verdict, the woman defendant was handed three years for prostitution.

“A.M. will have to pay a fine of Dh3,000 for wrecking the woman’s phone. The duo will be deported following the completion of their punishments,” said presiding judge Jamal in court.

The Tajik woman had pleaded guilty and admitted that she worked in prostitution as she needed to send money to her mother in Tajikistan.

The Afghan admitted that he had paid sex with K.T. but denied trespassing into her flat and stealing her purse.

The Tajik woman told prosecutors that the incident happened shortly after she opened her flat door at 3.30pm as she wanted to go out.

“When I was about to leave my residence in Freij Al Marar, the defendant stood at my doorstep. I was shocked. When I tried to close the door in his face and prevent him from coming in, he pushed his way in. Then he shut down the door quickly. He beat me all over my body. I sustained injuries and bruises. Then he grabbed my iPhone 6 and broke it into two pieces. He also took my purse that contained cash, an air ticket, my passport and another phone. He also stole my perfume and medicine and ran away,” K.T. testified.

When questioned before prosecutors, A.M. confessed that he paid K.T. money to sleep with her and that he took her purse by mistake. He claimed that he did not intend to keep the purse at his house where it was seized by police.

Sunday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.