Mother in court over snatch bid

The British woman who tried to snatch her 10-year-old son back from his billionaire father was today taken before Dubai's public prosecutor, her husband said.

Neil Fotheringham has been unable to contact his wife Sarra but had been told by the British vice-consul in the United Arab Emirates that she had been taken to the public prosecutor.

Mr Fotheringham, 32, of Camberley, Surrey, said: "This is Sarra's chance to give her side of the story. We're getting conflicting reports. I have been told that she could be appearing in court [today] but this has not been confirmed.

"I am very worried and if they don't release Sarra today I'll be flying out as soon as I can."

Mother-of-four Mrs Fotheringham, 34, flew to the United Arab Emirates in a bid to snatch Tariq from his father Rashid Al Habtoor after receiving an email a few months ago from her son which read: "I miss you. I want you to come to Dubai because we have a three-week holiday."

She and her Arabicspeaking friend Donna Al Nahi, 37, have been held at Port Rashid police station.

Mr Al Habtoor claims his son has told him "over 10 times" that he does not want to live with Mrs Fotheringham, who married her husband four years after an affair with the Arab financier.