'I helped Brit teen jailed in Dubai over sex - his tragic death tells me one thing'

A British teen who was holed up in a Dubai jailafter having sex with a girl has tragically died, just three months after his release.

Marcus Fakana, 19, died in a horrific car crash yesterday in Tottenham, north London, according to a UK-based legal assistance firm who were representing him during his time in prison.

Marcus, from Tottenham, had been staying with family in the United Arab Emirates city when he struck up a holiday romance with another teenager, who was also from London, at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah.

The pair had consensual sex, but as the girl was still a few weeks off her 18th birthday, the then 18-year-old Marcus faced severe consequences under the harsh legal system of the UAE. In Dubai, if an adult has a sexual relationship with a person under 18, they can be prosecuted for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

READ MORE: Teen Marcus Fakana jailed in Dubai over sex with girl dies in crash after release

After returning home from holiday and seeing pictures and chats between the pair last year, the girl's mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Marcus at his hotel.

Speaking previously about the summer fling, Marcus told the Mirror: "We had a wonderful time. I couldn't wait to see her again. Then police knocked on our hotel door."

For three long days, Marcus was held at the "notorious" Al Barsha Police Station, where, according to the campaign group Detained in Dubai, he was unable to make a phone call or even speak with his worried parents. And things got even worse from there.

After being arrested, it was expected that Marcus would be handed a suspended sentence for the consensual act and allowed to fly home. Instead, a judge ordered that the construction apprentice be locked up for one year in the infamous al-Awir prison.

The government of Dubai previously said: "Under UAE law, the girl is legally classified as a minor and, in accordance with procedures recognised internationally, her mother - being the legal guardian - filed the complaint."

It added: "Dubai's legal system is committed to protecting the rights of all individuals and ensuring impartial judicial proceedings."

In December 2024, Marcus stated that he had been "shocked beyond belief" by the sentence. Speaking previously to Detained in Dubai while on bail, Marcus pleaded for mercy from Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, the absolute ruler of Dubai, expressing he had not intended to break any laws.

He begged: "My family and I are devastated and in shock. I never intended to break the law. It didn't occur to me at the time, and for that, I'm sorry. I am asking His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, to please forgive me and pardon me. Let me go home. Please give me my life back."

Marcus spent six months behind the bars of the notorious al-Awir prison, where he spent his birthday and New Year far from home, in "squalid" and "dangerous" conditions.

Family and friends back home led an impassioned campaign for Dubai authorities and the British government to secure his release, with the backing of legal advocates.

On July 3, he was granted a royal pardon by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and returned to his family in London a short time later. The Foreign Office said it had supported Marcus prior to his release "on an Eid pardon".

But devastatingly, the teen's life has been cut short just months after he found freedom. Marcus died early on Friday morning after being involved in a collision, according to his family.

And Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, the legal firm that helped secure Marcus' release, said of the tragic news: "He'd shown strength and courage, and he was excited and optimistic about his future.

"It is devastating that Marcus's journey has been cut short so soon after he began to rebuild his life."

She added: "His loss is a painful reminder of how precious life is and how unnecessary imprisonment robs people of time they can never regain. Every day of freedom matters."

A heartbroken family member has also shared their devastation. Writing on social media, Marcus' aunt said: "I fought for you to be released from prison in Dubai, I did my best and this is how it ended?"

One person commenting on her post said: "Too young to die. When I heard that sad news early on tonight. My heart just sung in pain, felt useless."

Previously speaking about Marcus' release and the suffering he endured, Radha described the teenager as an "extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system".

The CEO said: "Marcus should never have been put through this. He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family, but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination. We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him.

"This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home."

While celebrating that Marcus is now "back where he belongs", Radha went on to emphasise the "trauma" he'd been left with, due to the "severe" impact of the decision.

She added, "Marcus is back where he belongs. But no one should have to endure this. He was 18 at the time, and the British woman involved is now 18 too, a fact she did not divulge to him at the time. We hope his story will prompt serious reconsideration of the UK's travel advice and its engagement with the UAE on human rights issues."