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British teenager jailed in Dubai for having sex with 17-year-old girl has reportedly died
A teenage boy who had recently returned to the UK after being released from a Dubai jail has been killed in a car collision.
Marcus Fakana, 19, was involved in a crash in Tottenham, north London, after the vehicle in which he was riding did not stop following a police request.
He was treated at the scene but was confirmed dead after being taken to the hospital. His death comes just three months after his return to Britain, following months spent in a UAE prison.
What led to his imprisonment in Dubai
While on holiday with his family in the UAE in 2024, Marcus began a consensual relationship with a 17‑year‑old British girl.
When the pair returned to the UK, the girl’s mother discovered their messages and images and alerted Dubai authorities. Under Emirati law, sexual relations involving a person under 18 are illegal, even if they are legal in the UK.
He was arrested at his hotel in Dubai and subsequently handed a one‑year prison sentence in Al Awir prison.
Campaigners called the punishment harsh and excessive, arguing that a fine or deportation would have sufficed.
His release and the tragic outcome
In July 2025, Marcus was granted a royal pardon by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and returned to the UK.
His advocates and legal teams celebrated his homecoming, saying he was recovering from the ordeal.
But just three months later, the car in which he was a passenger collided with another vehicle in The Roundway in Tottenham after a brief police pursuit, The Sun reports.
The police said they asked the vehicle to stop, briefly lost sight, and later found the crash site.
Marcus was seriously injured and died shortly after arriving at hospital.
Tributes have poured in from friends, supporters, and campaign groups. Radha Stirling of Detained in Dubai described his death as “painful” and reminded people that freedom is precious.
Some messages expressed grief and regret at his death, saying he was “too young to die.”