Antonia Bettridge, a 25-year-old personal trainer from St Helens, is facing a possible life sentence after being detained in Dubai on drug possession charges. She moved to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023, just two months after appearing in Liverpool Crown Court for a previous conviction, hoping to rebuild her life as a fitness professional.
Her mother, speaking through legal advisors Detained in Dubai (DID), has made a desperate plea for clarity and support. 'Antonia's whole life revolves around fitness and healthy living. She doesn't live a party lifestyle. She moved to Dubai to build something positive for herself,' she said. 'We are devastated and just want clarity about what has happened.'
Bettridge was arrested at the beginning of last month and now faces life imprisonment and a fine of up to AED 200,000 (approximately £40,700). Radha Stirling, CEO of DID, criticised Dubai's legal system, noting that 'detention can come first and clarity later' and that 'bail is limited'. She urged the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to support Bettridge's bail application.
This is not Bettridge's first encounter with the law. In September 2023, she admitted possessing criminal property after police found £8,000 in her car glove box during a traffic stop in Warrington. She was pulled over on December 22, 2021, and later convicted. She walked free from court after pleading guilty.
An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities.' The case highlights concerns over Dubai's strict drug laws, which have ensnared other British nationals, including a football coach sentenced to life imprisonment.
