Couple plead not guilty to sex acts in Dubai taxi

An Irish man and a British woman accused of engaging in sexual activities in a Dubai taxi have pleaded not guilty, in the latest case of Westerners falling foul of the Gulf Arab emirate’s decency laws.

If convicted, the pair could face jail and then deportation from the United Arab Emirates, which walks a delicate line between keeping its Muslim identity and maintaining a successful tourism industry.

Conor McRedmond and Rebecca Blake denied charges of “breach of honour with consent” and committing “an indecent act in a taxi” when they appeared in court.