Ex-corporal Andy Neal has been locked up in a Dubai prison since October after being wrongly being arrested on drugs charges
A British army war hero has been locked up in a Dubai prison for over four months after wrongly being arrested on drugs charges, Mail Online can reveal.
Former corporal Andy Neal has been held after being forced to sign a confession in Arabic admitting that he had sold drugs.
He has repeatedly denied any involvement in drug dealing and despite not a shred of evidence to suggest any illegal activity has languished in jail.
Prosecutors in Dubai admitted the 44-year-old is innocent but are refusing to set him free.
They have even threatened to transfer his case to another court in United Arab Emirates and prolong his prison nightmare.
Members of his family now plan to appeal to Nottingham born Neal's MP to try and help secure his release.
His case has been taken up by the pressure group Detained in Dubai who have said he has been the victim 'despicable police practice.'
'The police not only failed to competently investigate the case, but have locked up an innocent British family man for over four months,' said Detained in Dubai founder Radha Stirling.
The father-of-two moved to Dubai with his teacher wife (pictured) to run a dog training school after 24 years serving with the British Army. He remains in jail despite prosecutors confirming he is innocent
'It is shameful what has happened to Andy. His business is going under and he has missed many family events.'
Andy, who served for 24 years in the army with tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, was arrested on October 4.
He had been living in Dubai with his family since 2015 where he runs a successful dog training school.
The 44-year-old has repeatedly denied any involvement in drug dealing and despite not a shred of evidence to suggest any illegal activity has languished in jail
Having been diagnosed with PTSD from his last deployment to Afghanistan he had settled into the Arab kingdom with his teacher wife and children aged six and two.
His nightmare began when he returned from work and was suddenly surrounded by seven plain clothes detectives who searched his car.
The army veteran was frogmarched to his apartment where officers carried out another cursory search, emptying a few draws and looking in cupboards.
His terrified wife was told not to call anyone while Andy was assaulted and told he faced up to 10 years in jail.
The couple were warned if they did not cooperate their children would be taken away.
He told police: 'I do not have anything to do with drugs'.
Even though he pleaded his innocence he was arrested and handcuffed for 17 hours no food, water or access to
