US4 min(s) read
Published 14:40 01 Jul 2026 GMT
The mom of the British influencer who will possibly face a firing squad in Dubai has made a haunting admission about what happened in her daughter's boyfriend's flat.
As widely reported, Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, was arrested after the death of her boyfriend, William Treeby.
The social media influencer is accused of fatally stabbing the 26-year-old British national.
It was reported that after the incident, George organized a flight home, but she was apprehended at Dubai International Airport as she tried to leave the country in the early hours of June 22.
She is now being held in the notoriously tough Bur Dubai prison, and could face the firing squad if convicted.
According to advocacy group Detained in Dubai, a pressure group that helps foreigners abroad, George travelled to the United Arab Emirates after meeting Treeby on Facebook and developing a relationship with him.
After a positive first visit, George travelled to the country again and claimed that's when the man became "increasingly controlling and abusive," and she found out that "he had only booked her a one way ticket, leaving her alarmed and wanting to return home".
"According to Brooke, after an evening at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village, he became intoxicated and assaulted her in the car before continuing the attack after they returned to the apartment," the group said.
The influencer's family said George contacted them in a "state of panic after being repeatedly punched" and had "arranged a flight home" before returning to the apartment to recover her passport.
"The family say she was crying and begging for her passport's return when she was punched hard in the face and attacked. Brooke says she feared for her life and, reaching for a kitchen knife within her grasp, acted in self defence," the group said.
Detained in Dubai said George received "little explanation of the proceedings due to the language barrier," and alleged that she was "deprived of access to her embassy and forced to make statements in the absence of a lawyer".
The 23-year-old mother, Thereza George, said her daughter was "terrified" when she called home from the UAE in the hours before Treeby's death.
"The day before the incident, she wasn't herself. She was quieter than usual but wouldn't tell me why," she said. "That evening they went to a bar in Dubai. When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified."
"I have never seen my daughter so frightened. She was crying uncontrollably and I could see one of her eyes was badly swollen and beginning to close," she added.
The mom also revealed new details about the apartment where Brooke had been staying, saying her daughter was often left there alone while Treeby went out.
"The second time she flew out, those three days, she was on her own almost the whole entire time during the days, just being left at the apartment," she told The Sun. "There were other people there that lived with him. And they were coming in and out and going in and out together. But as far as she knew, that was to do with whatever business he was running out there."
According to Thereza, Treeby would regularly leave the apartment, telling George: "I've got to sort out work. I've got to go and meet someone," while spending time on his computer.
She said neither she nor her daughter ever knew exactly what his work in Dubai involved.
The mom also claimed another man drove the couple around during the influencer's second visit, unlike the first trip when the pair travelled by themselves.
Asked whether that individual had been interviewed by investigators, she replied: "I can say no is the answer. No. No availability, let's say that."
She added that Brooke had noticed a significant change in the atmosphere inside the apartment during her second stay.
"There were people talking. Conversations that they kept walking out for," she said. "The feel of the apartment and the other guys in there, the dynamic felt different."
The investigation is ongoing.
uk4 min(s) read
world4 min(s) read
Published 10:30 25 Jun 2026 GMT
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world3 min(s) read
Published 14:30 25 Jun 2026 GMT
The mother of a British influencer accused of murdering a man in Dubai has spoken of her fears as her daughter faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted.
Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, has been charged with the murder of 26-year-old Bill Treeby after the pair travelled to Dubai following an online relationship. George is accused of fatally stabbing Treeby but claims she acted in self-defence after being repeatedly assaulted.
The former John Lewis shop assistant is being held at Bur Dubai prison while the case is investigated. Human rights group Detained in Dubai is calling for authorities to treat the case as one involving alleged domestic abuse and is urging that she be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to George, she met the man on Facebook before travelling to Dubai with him. She described their first trip together as the "time of my life", but claimed his behavior changed dramatically during a second visit.
George alleges he became increasingly controlling and abusive and discovered he had only booked her a one-way ticket, leaving her desperate to return to the UK. After an evening at McCafferty's Bar in Jumeirah Village, she claims he assaulted her in the car before continuing the attack back at their apartment.
Her family say she later arranged a flight home with help from friends and returned to the apartment only to collect her passport. They claim she was crying and pleading for it to be returned when she was punched in the face again.
George says she feared for her life and reached for a kitchen knife that was within reach, acting in self-defence. She was arrested at Dubai Airport in the early hours of June 22 and charged with murder.
George's mother, Thereza, said per BBC News: “After Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time, the dynamic between them had clearly changed.
“The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self, but she did not tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai.
“When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably.
“I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close.
“As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified.
“I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”
The family also alleges George has been forced to strip naked in front of officers without a female officer present and has struggled to understand the legal process because of the language barrier. Detained in Dubai claims she was denied access to the British embassy and made statements without a lawyer present.
Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling said: “She reached for a knife after being attacked and punched in the face. Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate.”
She also said: “Brooke maintains that she acted only after being subjected to a violent assault and in genuine fear for her safety.
“She should be treated not merely as an accused person, but as a presumed victim of violence whose allegations and documented injuries deserve proper investigation.
“We will be working to ensure that her rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.”
Stirling added: “International organisations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking.
“Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation.
“We are calling for Brooke to be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation. The authorities must investigate Brooke’s allegations with the same seriousness as the allegation against her.”
She continued: “Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation.
“She should be afforded protection, appropriate medical care, legal representation and immediate British consular assistance while the investigation proceeds.”
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE, we are supporting her family, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”
A British TikTok influencer has been charged with murder in Dubai and could face the death penalty by firing squad if convicted, according to campaign group Detained in Dubai.
Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, is accused of fatally stabbing a British man with a kitchen knife after the pair met on Facebook. According to Detained in Dubai, George says she acted in self-defence after being attacked.
George is being held at Bur Dubai jail after she was arrested in the early hours of June 22. She was detained at Dubai International Airport as she attempted to return to the UK following the incident.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: “She reached for a knife after being attacked. Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate.”
She added: “The former John Lewis worker is defending a murder charge in the UAE after an altercation with British man she met on Facebook. Her world has been shattered and her family left in tears.”
George's family say she contacted them in a state of panic after being physically assaulted. They say she arranged a flight home and returned to the apartment to collect her passport before she was attacked again.
Her mother, Thereza George, said in a statement released by Detained in Dubai: “After Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time, the dynamic between them had clearly changed.
“The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self, but she did not tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai.
"When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified. I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see that one of her eyes was badly swollen and was beginning to close.
“As Brooke's mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”
Stirling said: “Brooke maintains that she acted only after being subjected to a violent assault and in genuine fear for her safety. We will be working to ensure that her rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.
“Over recent years, there have been increasing reports of women, including social media influencers, models and young travellers, being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, only to later allege that they were subjected to forced attendance at porta-potty parties, sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment.
“Those closest to Brooke became increasingly concerned that she may have been lured to Dubai under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation.
“Their concerns were fuelled by his unexplained change in behaviour, the one way ticket, the bikini clad professional photo shoot arranged during her first visit, the alleged withholding of her passport, Brooke telling friends that 'things weren't right', and her growing fear that she needed to escape.
"Brooke reported seeing disturbing videos on his computer and being assaulted by him before the fatal incident.
“Given these allegations, we urge the UAE authorities to preserve and forensically examine all electronic devices, computers, mobile phones, online accounts and digital communications connected with the deceased and any associates, to determine whether Brooke was targeted for exploitation and whether others may also have been victims.
“We are calling for Brooke to be released on bail pending the outcome of the investigation.
“Multiple witnesses observed visible injuries immediately after the incident. Rather than treating Brooke solely as a murder suspect, investigators must also examine her being the victim of serious violence and possible exploitation. She should be afforded protection, appropriate medical care, legal representation and immediate British consular assistance while the investigation proceeds.”
Published 14:51 29 Jun 2026 GMT
The mother of a young British content creator, who faces the death penalty after being charged with the murder of a man she claims she stabbed in self-defence, has spoken out about the pleas her daughter made as she was arrested.
Brooke George, 23, from Kent, travelled to Dubai, meeting a British man on Facebook; however, things turned sour shortly after the pair met.
George claimed that she was attacked by the man during an altercation at an apartment after the pair returned from a night out, so she reached "for a kitchen knife within her grasp" and "acted in self-defence".
The influencer, with almost 100,000 followers on TikTok, is believed to have organized a flight home but was arrested at Dubai International Airport as she attempted to leave the country in the early hours of Monday, June 22.
The ex-department store assistant is now being held in the notoriously tough Bur Dubai prison.
According to her mother, Thereza, George claims that she was denied a lawyer and "forced to strip naked in front of male officers, without any female officers present". She described the experience as "deeply humiliating and distressing, breaking down in tears when recounting it to her family".
Detained in Dubai, a pressure organisation representing George, released a statement on behalf of Thereza, said: “As Brooke's mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”
During the phone call that no mother ever wants to receive, George reportedly sobbed the six words: “I just want to come home” over and over again.
CEO of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, said: "We will be working to ensure that [George's] rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.”
She also noted that George could have been the victim of a common crime happening in Dubai, saying: "Over recent years, there have been increasing reports of women, including social media influencers, models and young travellers, being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, only to later allege that they were subjected to forced attendance at porta-potty parties, sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment.
"International organisations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking."
Published 10:51 27 Jun 2026 GMT
A British TikTok influencer is facing a possible death sentence after being charged with the murder of her boyfriend in Dubai.
Brooke George, 23, from Gravesend, Kent, was arrested in the early hours of June 22 and has since been charged with premeditated murder, according to advocacy organisation Detained in Dubai.
The social media influencer is accused of fatally stabbing a man she was reportedly in a relationship with after the pair met online.
George has not been convicted of any offence and the case remains under investigation.
According to Detained in Dubai, George claims she acted in self-defence after allegedly being subjected to a violent attack by her boyfriend.
The organisation said the relationship initially appeared positive, with George describing her first trip to Dubai as "the time of my life".
However, during a second visit to the UAE, the advocacy group claims the relationship became increasingly abusive.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said George alleges her boyfriend became "increasingly controlling and abusive" and that she was attempting to leave the country when the incident occurred.
According to Stirling, George claims her passport had been withheld and that she feared for her safety and allegedly claimed that she grabbed a kitchen knife during an altercation after fearing for her life.
The claims have not been independently verified and authorities in Dubai have not publicly commented on the allegations.
George's mother, Thereza George, said she noticed a change in her daughter's behaviour shortly before the incident.
"After Brooke returned to Dubai for the second time, the dynamic between them had clearly changed," she said.
"The day before the incident, she did not seem like herself. She was quieter and not her usual happy, cheerful self."
Thereza also claimed her daughter appeared frightened when she spoke to her following the incident.
"When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified," she said.
"I have never seen my daughter so frightened in my life."
Detained in Dubai has also alleged that George has not been granted access to legal representation during parts of the investigation and claimed she was forced to make statements without a lawyer present.
The organisation further alleges that George was subjected to degrading treatment while in custody.
Stirling described the case as raising concerns surrounding domestic violence, self-defence claims and the treatment of foreign nationals detained overseas.
The group has called for George to be released on bail while the investigation continues.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is providing assistance.
"We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE, we are supporting her family, and we are in contact with the local authorities," the statement said.
Under UAE law, George could face the death penalty if convicted.
The investigation is ongoing.
Published 13:28 25 Jun 2026 GMT
A young British woman is facing the death penalty in Dubai after being charged with murdering a man she claims she stabbed in self-defence.
Brooke George, 23, from Kent, travelled to Dubai after meeting the British man on Facebook.
The ex-department store assistant is now being held in the notoriously tough Bur Dubai prison after she was accused of killing the man with a kitchen knife following an altercation at an apartment after the pair returned from a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village.
Reportedly, George claimed that after she was attacked, she reached "for a kitchen knife within her grasp" and "acted in self-defence".
The influencer, with almost 100,000 followers on TikTok, is believed to have organized a flight home but was arrested at Dubai International Airport as she attempted to leave the country in the early hours of Monday, June 22.
George’s family is being represented by a pressure organisation, Detained in Dubai, which is urging authorities to treat the incident as a domestic abuse case and to release George on bail pending an investigation, after she claimed she was denied legal representation and subjected to humiliating treatment in custody.
According to her family, George claims that she was denied a lawyer and "forced to strip naked in front of male officers, without any female officers present". She described the experience as "deeply humiliating and distressing, breaking down in tears when recounting it to her family".
In a statement released by Detained in Dubai, George's mother, Thereza, said: “As Brooke's mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was desperately trying to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.”
CEO of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, said, "We will be working to ensure that [George's] rights are protected, that she receives a fair trial, and that the circumstances leading to this tragedy are fully and impartially examined.”
She also drew attention to human rights violations that the people her organization represent are allegedly subjected to, saying, "Over recent years, there have been increasing reports of women, including social media influencers, models and young travellers, being lured to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work, holidays or romantic relationships, only to later allege that they were subjected to forced attendance at porta-potty parties, sexual exploitation, coercion, violence or other degrading treatment.
"International organisations and law enforcement agencies have documented cases in which women were recruited under false pretences for the purpose of exploitation, including trafficking."
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