A British teenager who was jailed in Dubai after having sex with a UK tourist has been killed in a car crash – just months after being set free following a royal pardon.
Marcus Fakana, 19, died in Tottenham, north London, at around 1am on Friday after a car he was a passenger in failed to stop when being blue-lighted by the Metropolitan Police.
Officers say they ‘temporarily lost sight of the vehicle’ after tailing it for around 60 seconds, before discovering its involvement in a huge smash with another car at The Roundway.
Marcus was left seriously injured as a result of the crash and received first aid treatment at the scene, but he died shortly after being rushed to hospital.
The driver, a man also aged 19, was arrested after the crash on suspicion of failure to stop and dangerous driving. He remains in police custody.
Marcus’s death came exactly three months after he was released from prison in the Gulf state.
The girl was one month away from turning 18, but sex with anyone under the age of 18 is an offence in Dubai. They met when both their families were staying at a luxury hotel.
Marcus Fakana, 19, who was jailed in Dubai after having sex with a UK tourist has been killed in a car crash – just months after being set free following a royal pardon
Marcus died after a car he was passenger in crashed at The Roundway in Tottenham (Pictured: general view of the street)
While in prison, Marcus’s family had campaigned to bring him home and had hoped for a pardon from Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum (protesters pictured January 4)
The girl’s mother reported Marcus – who was aged 18 at the time – to the UAE authorities after seeing messages between the two when she had returned to the UK.
In a devastating vigil for the young boy, dozens of friends and family gathered at a home were seen sobbing, as many also put their heads down to commemorate their loved one.
His case drew widespread attention and outrage, highlighting the UAE’s harsh laws that criminalise personal relationships and critics say disproportionately target foreign nationals.
Radha Stirling, Founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai, who helped Marcus, told the Daily Mail: ‘I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Marcus Fakana.
‘I came to know Marcus as he faced one of the most frightening experiences of his life, and I witnessed his strength and courage throughout.
‘He was grateful for the compassion shown to him by the British public, and his experiences gave him a renewed focus on Christianity and prayer.
‘Marcus was thankful to have regained his freedom and was looking forward to building a positive future. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends at this difficult time.’
She added: ‘Marcus spent the majority of this year in a Dubai prison which no doubt caused him long lasting mental anguish. It’s sad that of all of 2025, he was only free for the three months from the 3rd of July until the 3rd of October.
‘It wasn’t necessary for him to be in prison at all. He could have been deported instead. David Lammy and the FCDO caused Marcus and his family no end of grief, refusing to effectively help him as the Foreign Minister.
‘It’s sad that he had to go through this in what would be the last months of his life.’
Raphaella Stirling, Detained in Dubai’s Crisis Manager, added: ‘Marcus had only been released from prison earlier this year.
‘Despite everything he endured, he was grateful for the kindness of the British public, and he embraced his freedom with renewed faith, joy, and hope for the future.’
Raphaella Stirling, Detained in Dubai’s Crisis Manager, said ‘he was grateful for the kindness of the British public’
Radha Stirling, Founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai, who helped Marcus, shared a post online to say she was ‘heartbroken’ following the death of her former client
Marcus was arrested and sentenced to one year in a maximum-security prison last year over a consensual holiday relationship with another British tourist who was just a few months younger than himself – a fact he was not aware of at the time
Further tributes poured in online for the teenager following his tragic death.
In a post shared on Facebook, one said: ‘I fought for you to be released from prison in Dubai, I did my best and this is how it ended.
‘My condolences to papa crispin and ya marie.’
One heartbroken person close to the family said: ‘God give Crispin and Marie strength, the pain is too much. Rip Marcus you left your mummy in pain baby.’
Another commented below the post: ‘I know some people might say it doesn’t matter how he passed away, but all I know is that we all hoped and prayed for him to pull through, and then suddenly he was gone. Please, make it make sense. I’m confused.’
‘Too young to die. When I heard that sad news early on tonight. My heart just sung in pain, felt useless.
‘Ooh God! I feel for your your dad, mum, your uncles, your aunties, your cousins, your sisters n brother. May your soul rest in perfect peace Marcus,’ a third added.
His death has come as a shock to many, as one wrote: ‘Omg this poor boy went though hell. So sad how long had he been out R.I.P.’
His release followed sustained pressure from Detained in Dubai’s legal and advocacy teams, as well as public support, behind-the-scenes diplomatic discussions and a royal pardon application.
The family confirmed his arrival and expressed immense gratitude for the support received throughout the campaign.
When Marcus appealed for a pardon, Ms Stirling said: ‘This has been the most traumatic and life-altering experience imaginable for Marcus.
‘He is barely an adult himself, and never intended to break any law. What happened was legal in the UK and consensual. But now he is facing permanent damage to his mental health and future prospects because of it.’
She said Marcus was only able to call his family sporadically for short periods, adding that the isolation had been mentally and emotionally devastating for both him and his loved ones.
The now 19-year-old had been serving his sentence at the Al Aweer jail, which is also known as the Dubai Central Prison for Men (pictured)
Marcus’s family marched in Westminster earlier this year to demand his release from Dubai
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail from the UAE where he faced 12 months in a hellhole jail, the 18-year-old begged: ‘Please give me my life back’.
Marcus apologised for breaking the law and described his ‘devastation’ at the year long sentence.
He said: ‘Today I was sentenced to one year in Dubai prison. My family and I are devastated and in shock.
‘I never intended to break the law. It didn’t occur to me at the time and for that, I’m sorry.
‘I am asking His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to please forgive me and pardon me. Let me go home. Please give me my life back’.
His parents had been urgently appealing to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the British Embassy in Dubai for assistance in advocating for his release.
After finally arriving home, Ms Stirling had said Marcus ‘is currently recovering’.
She added: ‘His case has attracted significant public attention due to concerns about the criminalisation of tourists and disproportionate sentencing.
‘We believe this case highlights the urgent need for expedited legal processes for foreign nationals and safeguards against unnecessary custodial sentences.’
The construction apprentice’s nightmare ordeal began when in August after he and a 17-year-old girl, just a month short of her 18th birthday, began a holiday romance in the £210-a-night Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, where their families were both staying.
After the girl and her family returned to the UK, her mother reported Marcus to the Dubai authorities after finding birth control pills in her daughter’s luggage, according to legal documents seen by the Mail.
Initially, Marcus was accused of rape, but was only cleared when police reviewed hotel CCTV footage which showed the girl going into his hotel bedroom at 4am.
It is not clear whether the accusation of rape originally came from the girl’s mother or was due to a misunderstanding or mistranslation by police officers, but the term ‘raped by force’ in Arabic appeared on the initial police report.
Although never charged with rape, the fact that the girl was 17 put her under Dubai’s age of sexual consent and Marcus was convicted of having under-age sex.
The Met have asked for any witnesses to the crash Marcus was involved in, or those who may have dashcam footage of the incident, to get in touch with them via 101 quoting CAD 214/03OCT.
The force say the Directorate of Professional Standards was informed about the incident, as was the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), in line with standard practice.
