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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Beach-sex couple to be deported | Beach-sex couple to be deported |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Two Britons found guilty of having sex on a Dubai beach are to be deported without serving any jail sentence. | Two Britons found guilty of having sex on a Dubai beach are to be deported without serving any jail sentence. |
| Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, had appealed against their convictions. | Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, had appealed against their convictions. |
| They were caught on Jumeirah Beach on 5 July and fined £170 and sentenced to three months in prison in October. | They were caught on Jumeirah Beach on 5 July and fined £170 and sentenced to three months in prison in October. |
| The pair were freed on bail during the appeals process and a court has now withdrawn their three-month jail terms. | The pair were freed on bail during the appeals process and a court has now withdrawn their three-month jail terms. |
| Palmer and Acors were not in court for the verdicts, but speaking afterwards on her mobile phone, Palmer said: "It just proves our innocence after all the bad stuff that was written." | |
| Hassan Matter, who represented the couple in court, said: "The judge has cancelled the jail. He refused the prosecution appeal [for the sentences to be increased]. | Hassan Matter, who represented the couple in court, said: "The judge has cancelled the jail. He refused the prosecution appeal [for the sentences to be increased]. |
| Sacked | Sacked |
| "They are free. It's wonderful. The judge gave us a good hearing because he has a good heart and a good brain. He understood everything." | "They are free. It's wonderful. The judge gave us a good hearing because he has a good heart and a good brain. He understood everything." |
| Palmer and Acors were found guilty of unmarried sex and public indecency at Dubai's Court of First Instance. | Palmer and Acors were found guilty of unmarried sex and public indecency at Dubai's Court of First Instance. |
| The pair were arrested on the beach hours after meeting at a champagne brunch. | The pair were arrested on the beach hours after meeting at a champagne brunch. |
| Palmer was sacked from her job in Dubai as a publishing executive after her arrest. Acors was visiting the emirate on holiday. | Palmer was sacked from her job in Dubai as a publishing executive after her arrest. Acors was visiting the emirate on holiday. |
| Prosecutors told Dubai's Court of Appeal the pair's punishment was too "small". | Prosecutors told Dubai's Court of Appeal the pair's punishment was too "small". |
| 'Chuffed' | 'Chuffed' |
| At the opening of their trial in August, Palmer denied having sex with Acors, saying they had simply been "kissing and hugging". | At the opening of their trial in August, Palmer denied having sex with Acors, saying they had simply been "kissing and hugging". |
| Mr Matter has insisted the results of a medical test on Palmer just hours after they were arrested on 5 July showed "she had not engaged in recent sexual intercourse". | Mr Matter has insisted the results of a medical test on Palmer just hours after they were arrested on 5 July showed "she had not engaged in recent sexual intercourse". |
| He said the couple would be deported after they had been processed by the court. | He said the couple would be deported after they had been processed by the court. |
| Andrew Crossley, of London-based ACS Law, who has been representing Acors, said: "Vince says it hasn't sunk in yet. They are both chuffed. Vince can't believe it." | Andrew Crossley, of London-based ACS Law, who has been representing Acors, said: "Vince says it hasn't sunk in yet. They are both chuffed. Vince can't believe it." |