Sex-on-a-beach Britons to appeal

A British man and woman jailed in Dubai after being convicted of having sex on a beach have launched an appeal against the conviction, their lawyer has said.

Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, will remain on bail ahead of the 18 November hearing.

The pair, arrested on Jumeirah Beach after meeting at a champagne brunch, were sentenced to three months.

They were also fined 1,000 dirhams (£160) and ordered to be deported.

Palmer, who was sacked from her job in Dubai as a publishing executive after her arrest, said in a statement she and Acors, who had been on a visit, had been "just kissing and hugging".

They were also convicted, in their absence at Dubai's Court of First Instance, of being drunk in a public place.

'Inappropriate behaviour'

Their lawyer Hassan Matter said the pair were not guilty and he would reiterate this at the next court hearing.

Prosecutors have said that if the appeal fails, the two will go straight to jail.

They were arrested on the beach just hours after meeting at Dubai's five-star Le Meridien hotel.

A police officer said he had warned the pair about their inappropriate behaviour, but returned later to find them having sex on a sun lounger.

Mr Matter has claimed that witness statements produced to the court, including one from the police officer, were "wrong" and medical examinations had proved Palmer had not had sex on the beach.

Friends of Palmer say she has been admitted to hospital in recent weeks suffering from anxiety and depression because of the case.