A Scot has been jailed for a month for drinking beer in Dubai.

Jamie Harron from Stirling also faces a three-year sentence for allegedly indecently touching a man at a bar.

The 27-year-old described it as a "cultural misunderstanding" and said he had touched the man's hip trying not to spill his drink.

It emerged on Wednesday that he had been convicted and sentenced in absentia for drinking alcohol and making a "rude gesture".

It is legal to buy and sell alcohol at licensed premises in Dubai but police in the strict Muslim emirate can still arrest drinkers.

A spokesman for prosecutors in Dubai said: "On the drinking charge, he has been sentenced to a month in jail, fined 2000 dirhams (£412) and will be deported.

"His next appearance on the public indecency case is on October 22."

Mr Harron, who has been stuck in Dubai for three months, has lost his job and says he has spent more than £32,000 on legal fees and expenses.

In a statement, he said: "My lawyers have put an objection in on my 30-day prison sentence issued by my absentia - that me and my lawyer didn't even know about.

"I hope that it can be sorted out.

"I didn't think it would have went on for so many months in the first place.

"I've lost my job, I'm in debt now, I may be going to prison and all this for a two-day stop-over.

"It's unbelievable.

"I'm still in shock that it's actually happened."

It is understood Mr Harron is out on bail awaiting his next court date.

He is said to be frustrated that the two cases brought against him have been separated and fears it will force him to stay in Dubai for longer.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We have been in contact with a British man following his arrest in Dubai in July.

"We are providing consular assistance."