An 18-year-old British man who had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl in Dubai while the pair were on holiday with their families has been sentenced to one year in prison, a campaign group has said.

Marcus Fakana, of Tottenham, north London, began the secretive holiday romance in September with another Londoner, who is now aged 18.

After returning home and seeing pictures and chats, the girl’s mother reported the relationship to Dubai police, who then arrested Fakana at his hotel. Sex with another person aged under 18 is illegal in Dubai.

Campaign group Detained in Dubai called the judgment an “utter disgrace” and said Fakana would appeal against the “unreasonable” sentence.