A brush with the law: Tourist faces jail for 'touching a man's hip' in Dubai

A British tourist could be jailed for up to three years in Dubai, after he apparently touched a man's hip by accident in a bar, according to his representatives.

Jamie Harron's supporters said he held out his hand as he walked through a bar to stop his drink from spilling on anyone in the crowd, but his hand accidently brushed the hip of the Jordanian plaintiff.

Campaign group Detained in Dubai said police arrived at the Rock Bottom club and detained the 27-year-old electrician, charging him with drinking alcohol and public indecency.

He has reportedly lost his job since being stuck in Dubai for three months and has had to spend over £30,000 [$39200] in legal costs.

"It is quite outrageous that he has been held in the country for so long already. This is another example of how vulnerable tourists are to arrest and detention in Dubai and at how drawn out and disorganised legal proceedings are," Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, was quoted by The Guardian as saying.

According to Harron's version of events, he had been going making his way through the crowded Rock Bottom bar with his hand in front of him. This was when he "touched a man on his hip to avoid impact".

Police arrived around half an hour after the incident, his representatives say.

After being detained for five days in al-Barsha prison, Harron reportedly had his passport confiscated and was released on bail

A UK foreign office spokesman confirmed that contact has been made with Harron and he is being provided with consular assistance.