Grandfather locked up in Dubai over bounced cheques to be released after officials made 'mistakes'

William Norman Meyerhoff, 72, originally from Grimsby, was held by officials during a transit stop on a flight bound for Australia in May and has been in prison since.

His family said he worked in Dubai over a decade ago but never had any issues there., but authorities told him there were 38 criminal cases against him.

The charges relate to cheques falsely made in his name by owners of a company he used to work for - which he denies knowledge off.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai who is representing William, says UAE diplomats have admitted “we sometimes make mistakes”.

She has passed on the promising news to William’s son Matthew this morning (Sun) who lives in Australia, where his dad also now lives.

She said: “William was amazed to hear the good news that authorities had promised to release his father.

“It was the first he had heard, despite the British Embassy having been in contact with him yesterday.

“William was locked up with fellow British grandfather Albert Douglas who has also been detained over bounced cheques he didn’t write.

''Albert had been caring for William who also suffers dementia and was struggling in the prison when the two were taken from the cell and brought to a luxury two bedroom apartment within the prison, designed for VIP’s and Sheikhs who are jailed.”

Radha says William's son Mathew said: ''We had kind of lost hope. We didn’t think he’d ever get home. In fact, we didn’t expect we would ever see him again.

''We had resigned ourselves to preparing for the worst given his health condition. We are extremely grateful that the UAE authorities have made this promise and are desperate to see him home.

''He will have to be quarantined in Australia for two weeks when he arrives but we will try to get a doctor to help him. Thank you so much for this wonderful news.”

William was allegedly told on his arrest: "Five years and three months prison for you, AED 98,000 fine or if you can’t pay, extra 6 months in prison."

William has two children, Matthew, 44 and Samera, 41.