THE wife of a British academic arrested five months ago in the United Arab Emirates has called on the Government to deny he was spying for them as details of the charges against him emerged.

Daniela Tejada, responded to reports that he will go on trial for spying by saying he is a man of principle with an “impeccable track record”.

Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student at Durham University, who is from Exeter, was taken into custody at Dubai airport on May 5 after interviewing sources about the country’s foreign policy and security strategy.

A statement released by the UAE embassy said: “His Excellency Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, UAE Attorney-General, has confirmed that, Matthew Hedges – British national – was referred to Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal to stand trial after being charged with spying for and on behalf of a foreign state, jeopardising the UAE military, economic and political security.

“The accused was referred to court based on legal evidence and findings of investigations that were carried out by the public prosecution.

“The investigations guaranteed the accused’s legal rights in accordance with the UAE constitution and legal system, in addition to close follow up by members of the British Embassy.”

It added: “Dr Al-Shamsi said that the Hedges had arrived in the UAE under the cover of “an academic researcher”.

“However, his confession statement to investigators “was consistent with information taken from his electronic devices and evidence collected by security services”."

The statement added, defence lawyer was appointed to represent him, funded by the state, “in accordance with UAE constitutional guarantees of his right to a fair, impartial and transparent trial”.

Ms Tejada, 27, said: “”I no longer know what to do to get Matt out of prison in the UAE.

“I am calling on the UK Government to clarify publicly that Matt is innocent of the charges and that there have been many falsehoods said about him.

“It is the duty of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to protect their citizens abroad. “This horrifying situation has been going on for far too long.”

She added: “The entire hearing was in Arabic, with only the questions directed at Matt being translated into English.”

The case will be back before the court on October 24.

Ms Tejada said: “The prosecution has therefore had over five months to come up with a case for trial and Matt’s court-appointed lawyer has been given two weeks with no further access to Matt.

“To call this a fair judicial process is, to say the least, highly inaccurate. Matt has never been allowed to speak about his case with anyone.

According to a profile on the Durham University website, Mr Hedges’ research includes Middle Eastern politics, the changing nature of war, civil-military relations and tribalism.

Amnesty International UK also called on the Government to speak out on Mr Hedges’s behalf.

The group’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Polly Truscott said: “Matthew wouldn’t be the first person to be arrested in the UAE on baseless grounds and to be detained for a long period without access to a lawyer.

“If he’s been charged with espionage simply for having conducted academic research into the country’s security services, he should be released immediately.”