British law student jailed in Dubai for a 'stupid mistake'

Mia O'Brien, 23, was allegedly caught with 50 grams of cocaine during her trip to the country.

The law student from Merseyside was convicted by a judge after a day-long hearing on July 25, Manchester Evening News reported.

According to her mother, Danielle McKenna, the "trial was all in Arabic", reported the news portal.

She was handed a £100,000 fine.

She has not pleaded guilty to the charge.

She is currently being held in Dubai's Central Prison.

Her mother Danielle McKenna, 46, told the Daily Mail: "She is absolutely devastated."

"Mia feels she has destroyed her life as she wanted to be a lawyer or solicitor," the mother said.

"I speak to her but she can't say too much on the phone," she said.

"She's just made a stupid mistake after going over to see a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai," she said.

"But she paid for her own flight as she had a bit of savings. No one paid for her flight so she's not one of these wannabe influencers," she said.

"I don't think she was asked to bring anything back. She was caught with cocaine in an apartment," she said.

"It was about 50 grams and there were two other people - her friend included. They have been charged with drug dealing," she said.