Glossop man sent to 'hellhole' Dubai prison

A man from Glossop has been sentenced to 40 years in prison in Dubai after being caught in possession of a small quantity of cocaine.

Sam Dorman, 33, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates after police allegedly found half a gram of cocaine, a Class A drug, in his possession. He was sentenced just one week later under the country’s notoriously strict zero-tolerance drug laws.

Dorman, a barber and tattoo artist, moved to Dubai in 2022 to start his own business. However, according to sources, he became involved with ‘the wrong crowd’ and allegedly began dealing drugs.

It is believed that Dorman’s arrest followed a police sting operation. Officers reportedly detained a customer and used the individual’s phone to set up another drug deal, leading to Dorman’s capture. A subsequent search of his home uncovered drugs with an estimated street value of £2,000.

Dorman is now being held in a prison that has been described as a ‘hellhole’. It is reportedly overcrowded and houses violent criminals, including terrorists and gang members. Located in the desert, temperatures regularly soar above 50°C, and reports of assaults by both guards and inmates are said to be common.

Inmates are subjected to harsh punishments for minor infractions, receive minimal medical care, and have very limited access to the outside world. Visits are rare, and phone calls are strictly controlled.

The Foreign Office have confirmed that they are assisting a ‘British man detained in Dubai.’ Dorman has a young daughter still in the UK.