Marcus Fakana was on holiday with his family in the UAE when a romance blossomed with the girl, who is also from London and is now 18, according to campaign group Detained in Dubai.
The two were together in August and reportedly kept the relationship secret from her family – but Mr Fakana has been unable to return to the UK after he was taken into custody when police in Dubai became aware of what was happening.
On Wednesday (December 11), he was sentenced in Dubai to one year in prison.
Radha Stirling, his representative from Detained in Dubai, said there will be an appeal for the sentence.
She said in a statement: “Marcus feels abandoned by the British government and Keir Starmer who just spent the weekend in the UAE.”
Ms Stirling added: “He was desperately hoping to come home this week but prosecutorial mishandling in the first stages of the case meant it wasn’t heard as a misdemeanour when it should have been.
“The family have issued a plea to Dubai ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to spare Marcus for consensual sex with another British citizen.
“I urge young people and parents to reconsider holidays in Dubai where so many people find themselves at risk of unfair and lengthy detention in prisons notorious for human rights abuses and torture. Holidaymakers should book elsewhere until Marcus is free.”
The government of Dubai previously told the BBC: “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.”
For three days he was held in a police station, unable to make a phone call or speak with his parents.
The family had to pay £2,000 for AIrbnbs awaiting for his case to be resolved.
