Then-Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher won the George Cross for throwing himself on a Taliban grenade in 2008
Then-Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher won the George Cross for throwing himself on a Taliban grenade in 2008
Navy

Ex-Royal Marine who won bravery medal in Helmand denies Dubai spy accusations

Then-Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher won the George Cross for throwing himself on a Taliban grenade in 2008
Then-Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher won the George Cross for throwing himself on a Taliban grenade in 2008

A former Royal Marine who won the George Cross for bravery in Afghanistan is being held in Dubai accused of spying despite his strenuous denials and desperate appeals for help from the UK government.

Matthew Croucher, 40, a former lance corporal, has been kept under virtual house arrest and is banned from leaving the country.

He was detained on 4 Nov 2023 when he was arrested and charged with 'intentionally and illegally accessing a telecommunications network'.

His family told The Times: "We're shocked at the set of circumstances which have played out over the last seven months.

"Matt was due to only be away for a couple of weeks, returning through Dubai after working in the Middle East on his way home.

"We don't understand why it's taking the Dubai authorities so long to process this case, being constantly told it should be resolved in a week or two, a case we believe to be made up and ridiculous.

"The FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office] have been useless in offering Matt any assistance, often making things worse with misinformation, telling him the case was formerly concluded and would only take one to two months.

"We've liaised with our local MP, Jess Phillips, who we're grateful for in trying to assist.

"However, nothing positive has been forthcoming and due to the general election apparently can't do anything more until after, if she's re-elected.

"This has caused our family immense stress and we just hope this can be concluded at the earliest opportunity."

Matthew Croucher pictured at Buckingham Palace
Matthew Croucher pictured at Buckingham Palace

A close friend said he was interrogated for six hours by Dubai Police CID – a cross between the UK CID and MI5 – where he was accused of being a spy.

They obtained a search warrant for where he was staying and retrieved an electronic device he claims he uses for security penetration testing in the course of his normal day-to-day security work.

He was subsequently kept in jail for four days before being released under investigation. Apparently there was insufficient evidence for the public prosecutor to progress with the charge.

However they confiscated his phone, his passport and internet banking access device.

According to his close friends, his ordeal began in October when he had been working in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and was stopping off in Dubai to meet friends on his way home to the UK.

He was arrested on 4 November and then required to report to Al Barsha Police Station every week up until 27 March. He says he was repeatedly told his situation would be resolved "next week".

Heroism in Afghanistan

Mr Croucher, who also served as an ambassador for the Royal British Legion in 2011, was recommended for the prestigious George Cross award for throwing himself on a Taliban tripwire grenade to save his comrades in Afghanistan.

He had been on a reconnaissance mission near Sangin in Helmand Province on 9 February 2008.

Moving through a compound at night he felt a tripwire against his leg and saw that he had activated a grenade.

He threw himself to the ground, and used his rucksack to pin the grenade to the floor, and tucked his legs up to his body. He was thrown some distance by the explosion, but due to the protection offered by his rucksack and body armour, suffered only a nosebleed, perforated eardrums and some disorientation.

The pack was ripped from his back by the explosion, and his body armour and helmet were pitted by grenade fragments.

Of the other three members of his patrol, the rear man managed to take cover by retreating round the corner of a building. The patrol commander threw himself to the ground, and received a superficial face wound from a grenade fragment.

However the final team member did not have time to react and remained on his feet. He would have been within the lethal range of the grenade but for Mr Croucher's actions.

A medic recommended that he be evacuated, but he insisted on continuing as the members of the patrol realised that Taliban fighters would probably come to investigate the explosion, and this would give the marines the opportunity to ambush them.

The ambush was successful, and Mr Croucher himself killed a Taliban fighter.

He was initially recommended for the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the Armed Forces, but was instead awarded the George Cross.

This medal is given for the same level of bravery expected of a VC, but is awarded when no enemy is present.

Mr Croucher is one of only 22 living recipients of the medal, of which only 406 have been awarded.

He was presented with the George Cross by the late Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 30 October 2008.

Detention in Dubai

Friends say Mr Croucher has been in regular communication with the Foreign Office which, he tells friends, has been "unhelpful" as well as twice writing to Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron and his local MP.

One friend who is campaigning for his immediate release said: "He was taken to Al Barsha Police Station where he was interrogated for six hours, questioned as to what his intentions were in the country, his work and life history, what his role is within the UK's MOD and Intelligence Services and what relation he had with the British Embassy.

"Matt was very co-operative, answering all of their questions and merely stating the device he possessed was for his private security work.

"He had previously been in Qatar for a week and Saudi two weeks prior to his arrival in Dubai. He was also asked what relationship he had with these countries.

"Matt, having previously lived in Dubai from 2014-21, had worked with the authorities on security-related matters, including CID, who were questioning him.

"The apartment he was staying in as a guest was searched by two officers, who didn't find anything. He was told he would be released, only to be taken and checked in to the general population jail.

"This small jail had over 60 inmates, was overcrowded, lack of beds, so Matt slept on the floor and had a primitive meal of rice and chicken twice a day with very unsanitary amenities.

"No information was passed to him or his friend who was assisting in the matter. His property was seized including his phone and banking facilities which the authorities hold to this day."

Plea for assistance

The friend added: "After four days' detention – usually only a maximum of 48 hours is allowed – he was released with no information or paperwork, only to be told he's on bail pending an investigation.

"It was later understood the public prosecution had a lack of evidence to prosecute Matt, hence his release.

"This was reported to the FCDO, although they have been little help and have refused meetings with Matt, the police, his lawyer and public prosecution, stating their limitations are to checking on the status of the case.

"The FCDO informed Matt the process should take one to two months to complete, however months after, re-stated the process isn't taking any longer than is to be expected.

"They also liaised with Matt to inform him the case had been concluded in January, only for him to report to the police station and be told otherwise.

"Matt has reported every week to the police and subsequently public prosecution since 27 March when they finally took on the case, who have continually informed him the case should be concluded in the next week or so.

"The proposed charge is 'intentionally illegally accessing a communications network'.

"Last week, Matt was told by the Public Prosecutions office to cease checking in and they will inform him of any changes.

"The FCDO seem to have issues with their liaisons in country, continually telling Matt they can't get through to the relevant people in the police or public prosecution, but will continue to try!

"I reached out to the FCDO media office for comment recently and they have yet to respond.

"Matt has written to numerous people in the UAE (months ago), Royal Family, chiefs of police, his public prosecutor and attorney general, informing them of his ever increasing difficult situation and his wish to conclude this matter at the earliest opportunity, all without response or action.

"Unable to earn, access banking and having to fund his stay in Dubai unable to leave (due to government-enforced travel ban), has caused significant financial strain. This has also put a huge strain on his family who are left waiting in the UK with no answers or support.

"He was only due to be passing through the country for a few days to catch up with friends before returning to the UK."

FCDO response

An FCDO spokesperson said: "We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities."

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