Laura Plummer: British woman jailed for carrying painkillers in Egypt will face criminal trial

She faces a lengthy prison sentence, or even the death penalty

Ms Plummer and her Egyptian partner, Omar Caboo (Facebook)

Prosecutors in Egypt's Red Sea region have referred a British woman to trial before a criminal court for attempting to smuggle hundreds of powerful painkillers which are banned in the Arab country.

The woman, 33-year-old Laura Plummer from Hull, has maintained her innocence since her arrest last month on arrival from Britain to Hurghada, a Red Sea resort city.

She has insisted the Tramadol tablets were for her Egyptian partner, Omar Caboo, who suffers from chronic back pain.

​Tramadol is listed by Egyptian authorities as an illegal drug given its wide use as a heroin substitute.

No date has yet been set for her trial. Convicted drug smugglers could face the death penalty in Egypt.

At Saturday's hearing prosecutors renewed her detention for 15 days.

A general view of al-Bahr al-Ahmar court, where Ms Plummer faces trial (PA)

Held in a 15ft by 15ft cell with 25 other women for nearly a month, Ms Plummer faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.

Her local MP, Karl Turner, said Mr Caboo has provided evidence which proves he has a bad back, and therefore confirms that she was bringing the medication to Egypt for him.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said its officials were "supporting a British woman and her family following her detention in Egypt".