Gulf jail pair return to UK

Ian Bamling and Lynn Majakas at Heathrow Airport

Two Britons have returned home after being released early from jail sentences imposed for smuggling drugs in Abu Dhabi.

Ian Bamling, 31, a social worker, and friend Lynn Majakas, 45, were jailed for four-and-a-half years but have now received a pardon.

It is understood that they were released in line with the holy Muslim celebrations of Ramadan.

After arriving at Heathrow Airport on Tuesday morning, a tearful Ms Majakas, 45, said of her jail sentence: "I've done two years and two months for something I didn't do."

Mr Bamling and Ms Majakas, who was head teacher at Bedelsford School for special needs pupils in Kingston upon Thames, south-west London, were caught with a small amount of cannabis and alcohol at Abu Dhabi international airport in October 1988.

Ian Bamling is greeted by his five-year-old niece Charlotte

They had travelled to the Gulf for a half-term package holiday and were jailed despite a sworn statement from a male friend that the drugs, concealed in a camera case, were not packed by them.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office in London said: "We can confirm that these people have been pardoned."

Concrete floor

Ms Majakas had told relatives she had to sleep on a concrete floor with other inmates at the spartan Wathba Jail and take cold showers which doubled as toilets.

A colleague said: "We have campaigned for her release and are just pleased that they are both out - and pleased that the Arab government has been prepared to grant clemency."

Ian's father, Robert Bamling, of Selby, North Yorkshire, said he and his daughter-in-law had gone to Abu Dhabi in October to try to win his release.

The meeting did not take place because the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi was recuperating from an operation.

Lynn Majakas, with one of her pupils

Mr Bamling said: "We were lucky enough to get in to see Ian and he was sharing a cell with 11 other people.

"I was surprised how well he looked under those conditions. But he was quite positive that he would be released.

"Ian was working at the school for special needs in Kingston upon Thames when he was arrested.

"We have been able to write to him and he has written back to us but I suppose more things will come to light when we actually talk to him.

"Ian has never talked about drugs before this happened - that's why it was such a shock right out of the blue.

"It is good to know he is coming home, especially around Christmas time."