A British teenager who was jailed in Dubai for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old was killed in a car crash, campaign group Detained in Dubai has said.
Marcus Fakana, 19, died in hospital in the early hours of Friday following a police pursuit in Tottenham, north London.
His death comes just three months after he was released from jail in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Metropolitan Police said its officers were attempting to stop a “vehicle of interest” on Pretoria Road at roughly 12.52am on Friday, and after a short pursuit, police temporarily lost sight of the vehicle.
Officers then drove onto The Roundway and found the vehicle had been involved in a crash with another vehicle.
Police said they delivered “immediate first aid” at the scene before paramedics arrived, as a 19-year-old passenger had suffered “significant injuries”.
He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.
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“The driver, a man also aged 19, was arrested after the collision on suspicion of failure to stop and dangerous driving. He remains in police custody,” the force said.
Mr Fakana returned to the UK in July after receiving the pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.
Radha Sterling, chief executive of campaign group Detained in Dubai, said she was “heartbroken” to share the news.
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She told PA: “Marcus spent the majority of this year in a Dubai prison which no doubt caused him long lasting mental anguish.
“It’s sad that of all of 2025, he was only free for the three months from the 3rd of July until the 3rd of October.”
Mr Fakana had been with his parents in the UAE from the end of August 2024 when a “holiday romance blossomed” with another Londoner, who has since turned 18, Detained in Dubai previously said.
He was arrested at his hotel last year after the girl’s mother reported the relationship to Dubai police after she allegedly found their pictures and chats.
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In Dubai, the age of consent is 18.
Ms Sterling added: “(Mr Fakana’s) 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.”
