Teen jailed in Dubai dies in London police chase

A British teenager who was jailed in Dubai for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl has died in a car crash three months after he was released.

Marcus Fakana, 19, was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed in Tottenham, north London, in the early hours of Friday. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries and later died.

The Met Police said officers had attempted to stop a car but, after a brief chase, they lost sight of the vehicle and it was later found crashed.

Mr Fakana, who was 18 at the time of the relationship with girl, received a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in July after being sentenced to one year in prison.

Radha Stirling, his lawyer and founder of the Detained in Dubai group, said: "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."

The mother of the girl in the relationship with Marcus reported him to authorities after seeing messages between the two when she had returned to the UK.

Ms Stirling 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."

The Met said officers provided "immediate first aid" at the scene before paramedics arrived.

"The passenger, a man aged 19, had significant injuries," the force said.

"He was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of emergency services and medical staff, he died a short time later.

"The driver, a man also aged 19, was arrested after the collision on suspicion of failure to stop and dangerous driving. He remains in police custody."