A decorated ex-Royal Marine reservist has reportedly been held in Dubai for seven months on spying allegations.
Former lance corporal Matt Croucher was awarded the George Cross for bravery in 2008 after saving his comrades’ lives by throwing himself on a grenade in Afghanistan.
But now the 40-year-old, who works as a security consultant, has been charged with “illegally accessing a telecommunications network” in the UAE, The Times newspaper reported.
He was reportedly arrested seven months ago and banned from leaving the country, having had his passport confiscated.
Croucher is the most highly decorated Royal Marine to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His relatives said the case was “made up and ridiculous” and that it was causing his loved ones “immense stress”.
“We’re shocked at the set of circumstances which have played out over the last seven months,” they said in a statement.
“Matt was due to only be away for a couple of weeks, returning through Dubai after working in the Middle East on his way home.
“We don’t understand why it’s taking the Dubai authorities so long to process this case, being constantly told it should be resolved in a week or two, a case we believe to be made up and ridiculous.”
Relatives also criticised the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for being “useless” in helping Croucher.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities.”
Croucher was reportedly arrested on November 4 last year and jailed for four days before being released under investigation.
He lived in Dubai from 2014 to 2021 working with the authorities on "security-related matters", the Times reported.
Croucher won the George Cross - the highest honour for courage on the battlefield not "in the face of the enemy" after smothering an explosion during a raid on a Taliban compound with his backpack.
This allowed the rest of his patrol to escape the blast.
He is one of only 22 living recipients of the medal, with only 406 ever having been awarded.
