Brit dad of two jailed for 37 years for a bounced cheque fears he may never see his kids again

A British businessman fears he may never see his family again after being jailed for 37 years in Qatar for a bounced cheque.

Jonathan Nash, 48, was arrested in 2015 after an internal dispute inside his company caused payments to be blocked.

Because he had written the cheques himself, he was personally liable under Qatari law.

Jonathan has not seen his two children or elderly mother Jennie for three years.

In a phone conversation last week he told a friend, the Daily Mail reports: "I'm not sure that I will ever get out.

"All my pleas have so far been ignored and I've come to the realisation that I may die in prison or be a very old man if I ever do leave this place.

"What is causing me the most pain is that I may never see my family again."

Daughter Katie, 17, said: "My dad has missed some important times in my life, for example my GCSE results or my school prom.

"I haven't hugged my Dad in over 3 years - I miss him so much, he has missed a massive part of my life by not being here with me.

"I just want him home as soon as possible."

Jonathan, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, has been languishing in the Central Prison, in the Qatari capital of Doha, for three years.

He was arrested as a result of his work as chief executive for Doha company Top House, which offers services to the construction industry.

The charity Detained in Dubai, which fights for Britons trapped in Middle Eastern prisons, is now fighting his case.

Earlier this week they handed a letter to the Qatari Embassy appealing directly to the country's Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

He has the authority to pardon any prisoner on merciful or humanitarian grounds.

Charity spokeswoman Isabella Alexandra said: "Jonathan has a young family; he did not intend for the cheques to bounce, he did not profit from them, and the decision to refuse payment was not his.

"We appealed to the Emir of Qatar to consider all of these circumstances, and we hope for a wise and compassionate response."