The mother of a British influencer accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend in Dubai has described a desperate phone call with her daughter just hours before his death — and is pleading with officials not to let her face execution by firing squad.
Brooke George, 23, claims she was persuaded to travel to the United Arab Emirates by 26-year-old William Treeby, who she says promised her a glamorous lifestyle and opportunities in modelling before allegedly taking away her passport.
Ms George, from Gravesend in Kent, alleges that Mr Treeby turned violent after she arranged a flight back to the UK, and says she stabbed him with a kitchen knife while defending herself.
The former John Lewis employee, who later built a profile as an influencer, was detained on Monday while attempting to catch a flight to London.
She has now been charged with murder in Dubai, where a conviction could leave her facing the death penalty by firing squad.
Even if capital punishment is avoided, a murder conviction carrying a life sentence would reportedly leave her with no possibility of parole.
Her mother, 55-year-old Tess George, has said Brooke sounded “terrified” when she rang home from the UAE in the hours before Treeby was killed.
Mrs George also claimed her daughter has been denied access to a lawyer since her arrest and has spent several days packed into a police station cell with nine other women.
Brooke George is accused of killing a boyfriend she met online with a kitchen knife in Dubai. Her mother has now revealed their frantic phone call only hours before the stabbing
George alleges William Treeby (pictured) became violent toward her after she booked a flight back to Britain, prompting her to stab him with a kitchen knife in self-defence
Mum-of-six Mrs George said her daughter first started chatting with Mr Treeby – who lived in Dubai – online in April this year.
Within weeks, Mr Treeby had introduced Ms George to family members in England before flying her out to Dubai to visit him for the first time.
Ms George, who has more than 100,000 followers on TikTok, went to the UAE at the end of May where she spent approximately two-and-a-half weeks with Mr Treeby, who took her to high-end restaurants and luxury beach clubs.
Mrs George recalls her daughter believing Mr Treeby to be the man of her ‘dreams,’ and planned to visit him in Dubai again only one week later.
It was then, when Ms George returned to Dubai, that her mother said things between her and Mr Treeby went wrong – and she received a worrying phone call.
Ms George had called her mother from a bar in the city, where Mrs George described her as ‘petrified’ and ‘absolutely terrified’.
She said her daughter was uncontrollably sobbing and expressed a desire to return to Britain because she was ‘scared’.
Mrs George told The Sun: ‘The day before the incident, she wasn’t herself. She was quieter than usual but wouldn’t tell me why. That evening they went to a bar in Dubai. When I spoke to Brooke right after the incident, she was absolutely terrified.
Ms George has been charged with murder in Dubai, where she may now face the death penalty by firing squad
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Her mother has said her daughter was ‘terrified’ when she called home from the UAE in the hours preceding Treeby’s death
‘I have never seen my daughter so frightened. She was crying uncontrollably. I could see one of her eyes was badly swollen and beginning to close.
‘As Brooke’s mother, I am deeply concerned for her welfare. The daughter I spoke to that night was utterly terrified. I firmly believe she was trying desperately to get home and away from whatever had happened to her.’
Ms George claims Mr Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his flat.
They had returned to his apartment to retrieve her passport when the fatal stabbing occurred.
However, after arriving at the airport, Ms George was detained by security staff who noted the injuries she had sustained in the confrontation.
Mrs George said that her family have since contacted lawyers in Dubai and are fundraising to cover the high costs.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, is supporting Ms George – but said she may face a firing squad if convicted.
George claims Treeby assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his flat
She said Ms George’s case highlights a disturbing pattern of young British women being brought to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury, only to be exploited – sometimes sexually.
Ms Stirling said: ‘Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate. Brooke maintains she acted in genuine fear for her safety after a violent assault.
‘We will ensure her rights are protected and that she receives a fair trial.’
Ms George is believed to be kept at the Bur Dubai police station and should be granted bail by authorities in the emirate.
Her family claim she was forced to strip naked in front of male officers and could not understand proceedings due to a language barrier.
Mr Treeby’s family, writing on social media, have said they are ‘heartbroken’ by his death.
His sister Esther wrote: ‘He was not only my brother but my best friend. I love you, my Bill. Forever 26.’
His mother Karen added: ‘My darling son, I’m broken. Rest in forever peace, my Bill. You will be so missed and loved by us all. We will never forget you and will keep your memory alive always.’
The Foreign Office said: ‘We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE. We are supporting her family and are in contact with the local authorities.’
