That'll teach them then

I know a lot of people want to bury this case but the sentences handed down today for what apparently was a premeditated and planned gang rape of a British girl are appalling.

2 Years - no wonder she stormed from the court. Oh and 10,000 dhs in compensation, presumably that's what the court thinks a gang rape is worth...

The defendants were all locals.

There very much is an attitude amongst some, that she was a westerner who got in a car after being harassed by another group and therefore had it coming, an attitude that this sentence will do nothing to dispel.

The fact that both groups were working together meant this girl had to endure a terrifying ordeal in the desert while her attackers will now do another year and a bit in jail.

This is another small nail in the coffin of Dubai I'm afraid, safety has always been one of the countries biggest selling points, heavily pushed by Dubai inc, and while no society can necessarily prevent this type of attack, they can sentence to deter.

The idea that local youths can pretty much do what they want, with only a slap on the wrist if caught is not unknown to those who live here, but it will come as a shock to the western countries on whom this place depends for tourism dollars.

We await the appeal procedure which can raise or lower the sentence, and hopefully will review this for the sake of all women here.