THE Worcester dad trapped in Dubai after a friend crashed his car has spoken to British Embassy staff about securing his release.

In yesterday's Worcester News we revealed how Mark Glass has been stranded without a passport for more than a year after court officials took it following a car crash. On Wednesday, he met officials after Worcester MP Mike Foster intervened in the case.

Mr Foster said: "Mr Glass had a lengthy meeting with British Embassy officials after I asked the foreign office minister Kim Howells to look into the case. We are doing all we can to get Mark home with his family."

Mr Glass, who lives in Foregate Street, with his wife Boryana and two children Veronique, aged three and Angeliqie, aged two, has been stranded in the Arab state ever since an Indian acquaintance he knew smashed up his hired car. Despite Mr Glass not driving the car, he has been held liable as the vehicle was in his name. He had moved to the country to work in catering.

Without a passport he cannot work and has had to sleep on a friend's floor.

The family had believed that £5,000, which his mother Hilary Atherage had given him, had been used to pay the hire car company so that the 34-year-old could get his passport back.

However, last night his mother spoke to Mr Glass who told her that the money, sent in January, had been stolen from the flat where he is staying.

Mrs Atherage said: "When Mark realised the story was going in the paper he felt he had to tell me that the money he was sent was stolen. We are very shocked to hear this. He said he hadn't told me because he didn't want me worrying."

Mr Glass's wife Boryana said she was glad to hear that British officials had now seen her husband and hoped he could have his passport back.

She said: "The embassy has said they will do all they can to help. I'm still scared to be confident and I'm just hoping we can get him home soon."

Mr Glass is due to have another court hearing on Monday, June 25.