Matthew Hedges' wife criticises UK for lack of help

The wife of British student Matthew Hedges, who was sentenced to life in the UAE for allegedly spying for Britain's intelligence services, blamed the UK govenrment for failing to help her husband.

Hedges, 31, was arrested in Dubai on 5 May and has since been held in solitary confinement. A PhD student at Durham University, Hedges had been conducting interviews on the country's security strategy and foreign policy.

In a verdict that shocked his family, he was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for "spying", after a five minute hearing during which no lawyer was present.

Speaking to the BBC Today programme on Thursday, Daniela Tejada said that the British had been too fearful of upsetting their ties with their close ally.

"I got the impression that they were putting their interests with the UAE above a British citizen's rightful freedom and his welfare and his right to just a fair trial, just to freedom," she said.

"They were stepping on eggshells instead of taking a firm stance."