Woman arrested for 'sex on beach'

A British businesswoman is facing up to six years in a Dubai jail after she was allegedly caught having sex on a beach.

Michelle Palmer was arrested on 5 July, along with another Briton believed to be a male tourist.

The Foreign Office confirmed that two British nationals had been arrested and the case was under investigation.

The Sun newspaper said Ms Palmer had been charged with having sex outside marriage, indecent behaviour in public and being drunk in public.

She was also reportedly charged with assaulting a police officer after the alleged incident on Jumeirah Beach.

'Panicking'

Ms Palmer faces a sentence of between three months and six years, but told the Sun she fears the authorities will give her the maximum sentence as an example to others.

"We are in so much trouble and my family and everybody are affected," she said.

"They are being pushed into a corner to make an example of us. I'm panicking."

Ms Palmer is believed to be a manager at a magazine publishing firm in Dubai, one of seven states that makes up the United Arab Emirates.

The Foreign Office website states that in Dubai public displays of affection are unacceptable and sex outside marriage is illegal throughout the UAE.