UK 'sex on beach' pair in court

A British man and woman are appearing in court in Dubai to face charges of having sex on a beach.

Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, and Michelle Palmer, 36, are due to stand trial at the Dubai Court of First Instance.

The pair were arrested after allegedly being seen having sex on a public beach in Dubai on 5 July.

They deny charges of public indecency and having unmarried sex but admit consuming alcohol.

Mr Acors and Miss Palmer arrived separately at court.

If found guilty they could face a prison sentence of up to six years but senior prosecutor Faisal Abdelmalek Ahli says they are more likely to be jailed for between six months and a year as well as being fined and deported.

'I'm sorry'

In a statement to the court at a previous hearing, Miss Palmer said: "We were just kissing and hugging. We didn't have sex together. I was lying on top of him.

"I have been in Dubai for two-and-a-half years without committing any kind of offence. I'm sorry."

The pair, who are both on bail, met hours before their arrest at a £60 all-you-can-drink champagne brunch at the Le Meridien Hotel, close to Dubai Airport.

One witness, a 21-year-old Palestinian man, told police he saw them "start kissing" after getting out of a taxi.

Mr Ahli said the police officer who made the arrests described seeing Miss Palmer with her "shirt off" and "sitting on" Mr Acors.

The officer said the couple had not noticed him until he shone his torch in their direction.

Miss Palmer, who worked for ITP Publishing Group, was sacked following her arrest.

"Following an internal review of this incident, the company has dismissed the member of staff in question," said a company spokeswoman.