Dubai court suspends jail term for beach sex couple

A British couple convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach are likely to return to the UK by the weekend, after being spared jail.

Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, appealed against their three-month sentences after they were convicted last month of having unmarried sex and public indecency.

But a judge at Dubai's Court of Appeal yesterday suspended their sentence. They will now be deported to the UK, and pay a fine of about £170 for being drunk in a public place.

After the ruling, Palmer said: "It just proves our innocence after all the bad stuff that was written. That's it."

Andrew Crossley, a London-based solicitor representing Acors, said it was likely the pair would return to the UK shortly. "It may take a couple of days to get their passports and their visas sorted but they should be back by the weekend," he said.

He said Acors and Palmer, who had been on bail after the incident, were "chuffed" at the judge's decision. "Vince says it hasn't sunk in yet," said Mr Crossley. "They are both chuffed. Vince can't believe it."