A BRITISH woman facing four years in a Dubai jail for having prescribed painkillers in her bloodstream has been released on bail, her ex-husband has said.

Tracy Wilkinson, 44, a sports therapist, has spent nearly eight weeks in prison in the United Arab Emirates after being arrested over a mistake on her passport.

The mother-of-two, from Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, was asked for a urine sample while in custody, which was found to contain codeine and temazepam, prescribed by her GP.

Codeine is a banned substance in the Arab state, and although Ms Wilkinson was not actually carrying the drug, she has been told it is an offence to possess the painkiller even in the system.

The offence carries a maximum jail sentence of four years.

Her ex-husband, retired police officer Robin Wilkinson, of Handcross, said she was released on bail at a hearing in Dubai on Saturday. Ms Wilkinson is due to appear before the court again next Saturday.

Mr Wilkinson said: "They have released her while further inquiries are made into the documents that have been placed before the court.

"They seem happy that the drugs were prescribed now."

Ms Wilkinson, runs the Balcombe Osteopath and Sports Injury Clinic and has treated top sportsmen, including members of the Brighton Bears Basketball team.