British tourist, 39, died from 'neglect' in Dubai police station

British tourist, 39, died from ‘neglect’ after being held for five days in Dubai police station where he was denied food, water and medicine and beaten by officers, coroner rules

• Businessman Lee Brown died on April 12, 2011, at the Bur Dubai police station
• The Foreign Office was accused of putting diplomatic relations above his welfare
• Jurors were told that he allegedly assaulted a maid at the Burj Al Arab hotel

A British tourist died from ‘neglect’ after being held for five days in a Dubai police station, an inquest ruled today.

Businessman Lee Brown, 39, died on April 12, 2011, at the Bur Dubai police station, the hearing was told.

He was left bruised and beaten after being given inadequate food and water, before being placed in solitary confinement where he did not have access to necessary medical care.

Mr Brown’s family accused the Foreign Office of putting diplomatic relations above the welfare of their loved one.

The builder, painter and decorator from Dagenham, east London, had been planning to visit the city for a few days before flying to Indonesia to visit his girlfriend.

Jurors were told he arrived in the Gulf state on April 6, 2011, and allegedly assaulted a maid at the Burj Al Arab hotel where he was staying the following day.

Businessman Lee Brown (pictured), 39, died on April 12, 2011, at the Bur Dubai police station, the hearing was told

He was left bruised and beaten after being given inadequate food and water, before being placed in solitary confinement where he did not have access to necessary medical care. Pictured: Bur Dubai police station in Dubai

He said the woman had come into his room without permission and that he was soon surrounded by 20 people who dragged him to the police station.

He may have been having a mental health episode when he arrived at the prison, the hearing was told.

His family say such an episode was the only credible explanation for his alleged behaviour at the hotel.

Recording a narrative conclusion of neglect, the jury forewoman said: ‘The factors that probably contributed to his death are as follows.

‘Bruises from other detainees, guards and police officers, a lack of adequate food or water, a lack of habitable living conditions and a lack of access to necessary medical care while at the police station.

‘Factors that possibly contributed to his death are a lack of access to services and adequate clothing.

‘The neglect was by the authorities at Bur Dubai police station.’

Jurors recorded his medical cause of death as unanswered.

Jurors were told he arrived in the Gulf state on April 6, 2011, and allegedly assaulted a maid at the Burj Al Arab hotel (above) where he was staying the following day

Nadia Persaud, Area Coroner for East London, will write a prevention of future deaths report to the Foreign Office raising ‘concerns’ about the issues highlighted during the inquest.

These are a potential lack of emergency access to British nationals when they are detained, warnings about the risk of detention and conditions of detention in Dubai, and a potential lack of clarity about the process around accessing detainees who are experiencing a mental health episode while detained.

The Coroner said: ‘I would like to thank the family for their assistance over the last eight years certainly to me.

‘It has been an absolute privilege to work with Doris Brown and Lee’s siblings who remained wholly dignified in the face of a lack of a response to the number of requests we made for some of the evidence which was never recovered.’

She added: ‘I hope this inquest has answered some of the questions the family had and gone some way to finding justice for Lee.’

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