A couple from Sussex have each been sentenced to ten years in an Iranian jail on espionage accusations, which they maintain are unfounded. The husband has accused the authorities of leaving them without support while they remain incarcerated in a conflict zone.
Speaking from behind bars, the man stated that both he and his wife feel abandoned, isolated and deeply exasperated by the handling of their case.
The pair, both 53 years old, were apprehended in January 2025 as they traversed Iran during a global motorcycle journey. They originate from East Sussex and are confined in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison after being convicted on espionage charges they strenuously refute.
In remarks from his cell, the husband urged officials to publicly advocate on their behalf.
He indicated they have completed fourteen months of a decade-long incarceration for alleged offenses that never occurred, specifically accusations of gathering intelligence for Britain and Israel. He stated the prosecution relied on fabricated documentation designed to warrant the harshest possible penalty, and that the government possesses knowledge of their complete innocence. While expressing pride in their British identity, he conveyed profound disappointment at the absence of visible backing from government leadership.
He questioned why their innocence has not been officially declared, insisting they are not intelligence operatives and that the accusations are entirely false. Addressing specific ministers by name, he called upon them to publicly disclose the information and demonstrate meaningful commitment to their situation, warning their safety remains perpetually endangered.
He described their current circumstances as having escalated from difficult to life-threatening, noting the complete absence of guidance regarding their next steps or potential actions should they be released. A representative for the family previously recounted how an explosion shattered windows in the area where the husband was being held, causing debris to fall on prisoners. The wife reportedly described women taking cover beneath metal sleeping platforms.
The husband expressed gratitude to loved ones who continue campaigning for their liberation and safe return. The wife’s son described his mother as emotionally devastated, characterising their imprisonment as an ongoing process of psychological harm. He explained she had shifted from maintaining optimism to feeling utterly lost, with the impression of desertion by her own country compounding her distress. He emphasised they are not intelligence agents and that authorities acknowledge this reality, urging public acknowledgment as anything less perpetuates misinformation and extends the torment of blameless individuals. He detailed inhumane detention conditions, including sleeping on bare metal frames without bedding, causing persistent discomfort, while the husband endures agony from an unaddressed dental infection. He noted they have no recourse for assistance, describing the situation as more than mere confinement but a gradual dismantling of their wellbeing.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office maintains a warning against all travel to Iran by British and dual nationals due to substantial risks of detention and interrogation. Officials have been contacted regarding this matter.