BILLY Hood is one of several Brits being held in a "hell-hole" Dubai jail.

       He was reportedly forced to confess to drug charges after cops found CBD vape oil in his car - but what else do we know?

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       Billy Hood is behind bars in Dubai Credit: Facebook Who is Billy Hood?

       Billy Hood is a British football coach originally from Ladbroke Grove, West London.

       He moved to the UAE to teach kids' football but is now serving time in a Dubai prison.

       The 24-year-old was jailed after being found with four small bottles of CBD vape oil in his car.

       Police said they swooped on Billy after seeing something he had posted on social media.

       His lawyers said they "jumped out" on him while he was getting something from his car and threatened him with a Taser.

       Billy said in a statement: "They demanded to show them where the drugs are.

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       "I was shocked, scared and confused. I told them I wasn’t aware or in possession of any drugs or substances."

       Billy was convinced it was a case of mistaken identity so took a drugs test, which came back negative, and allowed officers to search his apartment.

       Police found ￡4,000 in cash which Billy claimed was money from his new employer while he set up a bank account.

       How long has Billy Hood been jailed for?

       Billy was sentenced to 25 years behind bars.

       It means he will remain in Dubai's most notorious prison until his 49th birthday.

       He was arrested and thrown in jail under strict UAE drug laws as CBD oil used for vaping sometimes contains traces of THC - the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis.

       It is legal in the UK and is commonly used to relieve pain, stress and anxiety.

       Football agent Alfie Cain said Billy was beaten daily for five days while officers tried to force him to confess to drug crimes.

       Billy told Alfie, also 24, he only signed the drug trafficking confession because officials told him if he signed the document, written in Arabic, they would stop the abuse.

       Founder and CEO of pressure group Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, described his treatment and sentence as "extreme".

       And after his sentencing, Billy's heartbroken mum Brenda told The Sun: "This is not our Billy, he is 100 per cent innocent."

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       Football coach Billy Hood's family have made a desperate bid for his freedom Credit: Facebook

       On October 18, 2021, Billy's family made a desperate bid for his freedom, with the help of campaigners Detained in Dubai.

       Ms Stirling said "it's very clear" the court "never even heard Billy's defence".

       She said: "The prosecution evidence that Billy was ‘selling drugs’ relies solely on Billy having ￡4,000 cash in his apartment and they are fully aware this was money paid by his employer for his coaching job."

       She added that social media communications "confirm the bottles were not Billy's" and "he had no interest or desire to have them in his possession".

       She added: "Billy should not be punished for the mistakes of his friend.

       "It is appalling that the police charged him with selling drugs and even more appalling that the judge accepted it."

       In a statement, his family said they were "angered" by what they claimed was the UAE's "propaganda" in the case.

       They said: "It seems like they are just trying to salvage their own terrible reputation after embarrassing the whole country with this ridiculous arrest.

       "Billy’s drug tests all returned negative. Anyone who knows Billy has vouched for him and his 100 per cent anti-drug policy.

       "It is absolutely absurd that the police have not only ruined his life but also slandered him and his reputation.

       "It’s not acceptable that Billy has been held for more than nine months over four small bottles of vape oil that were not even his and that he has no interest in."

       Mum of Brit footballer, 24, jailed for 25 years after CBD oil arrest in emotional interview on GMB