Briton jailed in Dubai over CBD vape oil ‘was crushed in jail’ whereas Prince William visited metropolis

A jailed British soccer coach was allegedly crushed up by jail guards in Dubai on the identical day that Prince William visited town for an Expo occasion. 

Billy Hood, 25, from west London, was ‘violently attacked’ by 4 Emirati jail guards on Thursday after he punched the wall of his jail cell out of ‘frustration’, campaigners have claimed.

Mr Hood, who’s serving ten years in jail for ‘unintentionally’ possessing CBD vape oil, was remoted in a cell that would solely match a mattress, in keeping with Detained in Dubai – an organisation that helps international nationals arrested within the Emirate.

The alleged assault is believed to have occurred on the identical day that Prince William was individually on an official go to to Dubai to satisfy UAE diplomats to debate ‘sustainability’.

William’s go to to Dubai – his first official journey to the UAE and his first main abroad go to in two years – was designed to have fun British expertise, promote ties between the UK and the UAE, and champion environmental causes near his coronary heart.

Talking concerning the alleged assault, Mr Hood’s brother Alex claimed it was not the primary time his brother had been ‘assaulted whereas in custody’.

He mentioned: ‘I’m disgusted that the UK would ever permit this to occur to a British citizen and that they haven’t already intervened.’ 

Whereas Mr Hood’s mom Breda known as on Prince William to avoid wasting her son and promote human rights within the UAE, asking the Duke to think about how ‘you’ll really feel should you came upon your helpless son was crushed in a international jail’. 

‘I implore Prince William to assist my son, the opposite British nationals in jail and future guests. If nothing is completed to assist Billy, how can we ever say the UAE is secure for Brits?’, she mentioned.

‘My son is in jail for one thing he did not do. He should not even be there. I am unable to perceive how this has been allowed to occur. He is being crushed in a international jail as a result of his good friend left CBD oil in his automotive. 

‘What sort of a system is that this? I wish to be sick after I see reveals and commercials selling Dubai. I am disgusting to see Prince William being handled respectfully when they’re clearly disrespecting him by torturing his folks.’

CEO of Detained in Dubai Radha Stirling added: ‘It’s abhorrent and actually stunning that the United Arab Emirates, our ally, has refused to stop the mistreatment, abuse and torture of British residents.’

Detained in Dubai has known as for pressing conferences with the International Workplace, whereas the charity mentioned a criticism could be filed with the United Nations Particular Rapporteur on Torture and Different Merciless, Inhuman or Degrading Remedy or Punishment.  

Ms Stirling added: ‘Unfair detention and human rights violations have to be handled by international governments and it’s time that the UAE was held to account for the continued abuse of people in detention.’

The alleged assault is known to have come on the identical day as Prince William’s one-day journey to the nation for the Dubai Expo 2020.

William toured the Expo 2020’s $7billion grounds of the positioning alongside Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the son of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

The go to was carried out on the request of the International, Commonwealth and Growth Workplace, and it got here within the fiftieth anniversary 12 months of the UAE and coincided with the UK Nationwide Day being held at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The alleged beating comes after Mr Hood had his 25 12 months sentence for possessing CBD vape oil decreased to 10 years at attraction. 

Mr Hood was arrested in January final 12 months and in October convicted of drug trafficking with intent to provide after the vape oil was discovered within the boot of his automotive.

In November, his case was introduced in entrance of an Abu Dhabi attraction court docket, which recognised Mr Hood had ‘unintentionally possessed’ the medication however had no ‘intent to provide’, and decreased the time period by 15 years. 

Following the appeals judgement in November, Ms Stirling slammed Dubai police for ‘forcing [Mr Hood] to admit with guarantees of his imminent launch’. 

Mr Hood’s finest good friend Alfie Cain beforehand claimed he informed him he was slapped, tasered, crushed for 5 days to make him signal a confession and solely given bread and small quantities of water whereas in a Dubai jail. 

He informed Mr Cain he solely signed a confession to the medication prices, which was written in Arabic, as a result of officers mentioned if he did the abuse would cease. 

Members of the family have mentioned he was so frightened and drained that he agreed to signal a confession not figuring out he had admitted to such severe crimes. 

Talking about Mr Hood’s confession, Mr Cain mentioned: ‘Billy mentioned they informed him he might go dwelling if he signed the paper, that is why he gave in and signed that piece of paper in Arabic he had no concept what he signing, however he simply wished to make it cease.’  

Ms Stirling beforehand accused the UAE of forming a ‘manufactured a case’ towards Mr Hood, however the Emirate has denied this, saying that he was charged based mostly on plenty of gadgets present in his automobile.

A earlier assertion from the UAE Public Prosecution mentioned: ‘Mr. Hood was discovered to be in possession of portions of artificial hashish oil. 

‘The Police search of Mr Hood’s automobile discovered the hashish oil, substantial quantities of money, an digital hookah, numerous storage bottles and packing containers, and 570 particular person cartridges for use for substance vaping. 

‘Mr. Hood was convicted based mostly on proof together with the gadgets present in his possession, info on his telephone, third celebration assertion, and his personal confession.’  

Police in Dubai are thought to have singled out Mr Hood after monitoring WhatsApp messages and searching for key phrases associated to medication.

Per week earlier than his arrest the good friend who owned the vape liquid despatched a message telling Hood he had mistakenly left it behind in his automotive. 

Hood, who performed semi-professional soccer for Kensington and Ealing Borough FC, was shocked when police unexpectedly turned up at his flat in January and demanded to go looking his dwelling and firm automotive.

4 small vials of vape liquid containing hashish oil (CBD) and a vape pen had been later discovered within the passenger door compartment.

After his arrest, Hood volunteered to take a urine check for medication which got here again detrimental.

Vape liquid containing CBD (hashish oil) is bought by excessive avenue shops within the UK and completely authorized though they have to include lower than 0.2 per cent of THC which is the ingredient that results in customers getting ‘excessive’. 

Police additionally discovered just a few thousand kilos in money in his flat however Mr Hood’s employers informed police they’d paid him they cash whereas his checking account was being arrange. 

He mentioned one of many arresting officers mentioned they had been fascinated by him from social media however didn’t take his telephone or pc. He maintains there was no point out of the vape liquid on social media however in a single WhatsApp message. 

Stress group Detained in Dubai imagine the one clarification for police turning up unannounced could possibly be authorities monitoring WhatsApp and studying the message concerning the vape liquid.

After he was handed a 25 12 months sentence in October, Mr Hood mentioned in an announcement launched by his lawyer: ‘I don’t smoke vape pens, cigarettes and even sheesha. I’m very anti-drugs and spend my days teaching in faculties with youngsters.

‘I had simply moved to a brand new dwelling in Dubai and went to get a telephone charger from my automotive after I was all of a sudden approached by police.

‘They jumped out to arrest me, handcuffed me. One officers pointed a taser at me, threatening to make use of it if I didn’t cooperate.

‘They demanded I present them the place the medication had been. I used to be shocked and confused and informed them I wasn’t in possession of any medication.’