A British man convicted of having sex on a Dubai beach has been re-arrested as he was about board a flight to the UK, his lawyer has said.

Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, London, was detained at Dubai Airport and returned to jail.

His lawyer Andrew Crossley said Acors’s flight confirmation was allegedly “not in order”.

Acors and Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, were given suspended jail sentences.

Acors had been due to return on Friday but a delay in the deportation process meant he was unable to board a Heathrow-bound plane and spent the weekend in jail.

Mr Crossley said: “The return of Vince Acors has been delayed yet again and he will not be returning to the UK tomorrow [Tuesday].

“The situation is close to becoming farcical and Vince is severely disappointed.

“After having booked and confirmed his return flight on three separate occasions through the course of the day Vince was re-arrested at Dubai Airport, as his flight confirmation was allegedly not in order.

“He has been returned to jail, his precise return is now unknown.”

Palmer and Acors were arrested on the Jumeirah Beach on 5 July, hours after meeting at a champagne brunch.

They were found guilty of unmarried sex and public indecency at Dubai’s Court of First Instance in October. Both were fined £170 and sentenced to three months in prison.

They admitted a charge of being drunk in a public place.