Aberdeenshire grandad could face jail in Dubai after challenging noisy neighbours

An Aberdeenshire grandad could be facing several years in jail after challenging noisy neighbours in Dubai.

Ian MacKellar has been unable to return to his home in Newtonhill following a row with partying neighbours after he asked them to lower the volume whilst he looked after his 18-month-old granddaughter.

After texting the hosts to turn the music down, he went over to the neighbour's house and entered the garden through a side gate.

He was met with an "unexpected response" when multiple guests at the party reportedly started pushing him backwards whilst raising their voices and filming him.

Ian was advised to leave and he did, before the host reportedly "ran up to him screaming" and threw a drink over his infant granddaughter.

After the incident, Ian said to his daughter he would report it to the police but she insisted not to take the matter further, as she was new to the neighbourhood.

The neighbour then filed a police complaint against Ian for “trespass”, resulting in a travel ban and potentially several years in prison.

He was due to leave Dubai on January 10 but still remains there with no access to essential medication for a heart condition.

"He is very distressed"

His wife, Carol, 71, travelled home alone for the first time in 49 years of marriage and tells us she is worried about when he will be able to join her.

She said: "Sleeping is difficult - even eating - because the whole time it's in your mind knowing that you can't help him over there and not knowing, what is the end result going to be? Because obviously some people have had serious consequences and I just know he wouldn't survive that.

"He's been told if he's found guilty he could be imprisoned for two years at least. He's 75 -almost - and he would not survive that, not the regime of a prison."

Ian has been asked to attend the police station on Thursday but hasn't been informed about the nature of the appointment.

Due to Ian's visa running out, he has managed to extend it by 20 days but once that time is up, he and his wife will be fined for every day he remains in the country.

Carol said he is a "devoted husband and father" and has found this situation extremely difficult.

She continued: "He is very, very distressed. He is very emotional.

"He is normally a positive person and he is showing at the moment that he is struggling with this so I obviously am quite worried about that."

Court date could take months

Lawyer Radha Stirling is CEO at Detained in Dubai and is assisting Mr MacKellar with his case but explained it can take months for a court date to be set.

She explained: "The police have said that they have tried to discourage the complainant from proceeding but she has refused to drop the case. So, now he's in the position where he's awaiting on a court date but in the UAE that can take anywhere from four to six months - sometimes longer.

"Often, even if you're found innocent the punishment can be the process so he was hoping that he'd be out already - he's already overdue a couple of weeks from returning to Scotland.

"He has his own heart condition so he's extremely worried that now his medical insurance has run out, he's going to be at higher risk in Dubai.

"His lawyers have said that he could face two years or more in prison simply for going to his neighbours house to ask them to turn down the music."

Ms Stirling has reached out to Ian’s MP, Andrew Bowie, for assistance.

A spokesman for Mr Bowie's office said: "Andrew has engaged with the Foreign Office after being contacted by Mr McKellar, and has given details of his case to the relevant minister.

"Andrew’s office are giving Mr McKellar’s family advice and support, and are working to help get him the medical help he needs."

Detained in Dubai has helped more than 20,000 people over the past 16 years.