This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7803047.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Dubai sex man faces massive bill | Dubai sex man faces massive bill |
(30 minutes later) | |
A British man who was convicted of having sex on a beach in Dubai has been left with a legal bill of tens of thousands of pounds. | A British man who was convicted of having sex on a beach in Dubai has been left with a legal bill of tens of thousands of pounds. |
Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, both got three-month jail terms, later suspended on appeal. | Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, both got three-month jail terms, later suspended on appeal. |
Acors told BBC Radio 5 Live it had been a "very expensive experience". | Acors told BBC Radio 5 Live it had been a "very expensive experience". |
He also expressed his relief at seeing his family and friends after arriving back in the UK on Christmas Eve. | He also expressed his relief at seeing his family and friends after arriving back in the UK on Christmas Eve. |
Acors said he went to Dubai on a three-day business trip which turned out to be a six-month ordeal which was "gladly finally over". | Acors said he went to Dubai on a three-day business trip which turned out to be a six-month ordeal which was "gladly finally over". |
'Living expenses' | 'Living expenses' |
He went on to explain how the costs mounted up after he was arrested. | |
"You pay a succession of fees to a local, which is your lawyer, then you have a set of fees for your solicitor who effectively puts your case together," he said. | "You pay a succession of fees to a local, which is your lawyer, then you have a set of fees for your solicitor who effectively puts your case together," he said. |
"We paid double-bubble, but we got the result that we wanted in the end." | "We paid double-bubble, but we got the result that we wanted in the end." |
He added: "It's been an extremely expensive situation for me. I had a pretty successful business before I went to Dubai which it's going to take me at least six months to pick back up again. | He added: "It's been an extremely expensive situation for me. I had a pretty successful business before I went to Dubai which it's going to take me at least six months to pick back up again. |
"In addition to that, the living expenses in Dubai are huge. I didn't think there could possibly be a place more expensive than London, but I found it." | "In addition to that, the living expenses in Dubai are huge. I didn't think there could possibly be a place more expensive than London, but I found it." |
He said he could not see himself and Palmer pursuing a relationship. | |
'No choice' | |
Acors later told a news conference that heavy drinking and contact between unmarried couples were not uncommon in Dubai, but added he had been "extremely naive". | |
"We just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said. | |
He added that he felt the Dubai authorities had "no real choice" other than to find the pair guilty because of the worldwide publicity surrounding the situation. | |
Palmer flew home before Acors who was re-arrested because of paperwork problems as he prepared to board a flight back to the UK. | Palmer flew home before Acors who was re-arrested because of paperwork problems as he prepared to board a flight back to the UK. |
She was working in Dubai as a publishing executive but was sacked after her arrest. | |
The pair were arrested on Jumeirah Beach on 5 July, hours after meeting at a champagne brunch. | The pair were arrested on Jumeirah Beach on 5 July, hours after meeting at a champagne brunch. |
In October, they were found guilty by Dubai's Court of First Instance of unmarried sex and public indecency. They admitted a charge of being drunk in a public place. | In October, they were found guilty by Dubai's Court of First Instance of unmarried sex and public indecency. They admitted a charge of being drunk in a public place. |
Acors and Palmer were also fined £170 each. | Acors and Palmer were also fined £170 each. |