British ‘influencer’ ‘stabbed man to death’ in Dubai after he lured her to kingdom and to

A British TikToker and influencer charged with murdering a man in Dubai claims he lured her to the Gulf with promises of a life of luxury and a modelling career before confiscating her passport.

Brooke George, 23, a former John Lewis shop assistant from Gravesend, is accused of killing the 26-year-old fellow Briton with a kitchen knife in his luxury apartment.

The Daily Mail understands the man is William Treeby, who is also originally from Kent. The Foreign Office has said the victim has not yet been formally identified by local authorities.

His death reportedly followed an alleged assault, with human rights group Detained in Dubai claiming Miss George was punched before grabbing a kitchen knife and fatally stabbing him in self-defence as she tried to ‘escape’.

In tributes, Mr Treeby’s family said they were ‘heartbroken’ by his death. His sister Esther wrote in a social media post: ‘He was not only my brother but my best friend. I love you, my Bill. Forever 26.’

Miss George’s loved ones say she met the 26-year-old during an earlier trip to Dubai in May after striking up a relationship on Facebook. Mr Treeby, who appears to have driven a Rolls-Royce, was ‘very nice’ to her and arranged a professional photoshoot of her posing on a beach in front of the city skyline.

But on her return to the UAE in June, she is said to have accused him of booking her a one-way ticket, taking her passport and launching a violent attack when she asked for it back and tried to return to the UK.

Her mother has said her ‘absolutely terrified’ daughter was ‘desperate to get home and away from whatever had happened to her’.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, is supporting Miss George and claims she faces the death penalty by firing squad if convicted.

‘She reached for a knife after being attacked and punched in the face. Authorities must treat her as a domestic violence survivor while they investigate,’ Ms Stirling said.

Miss George was arrested as she tried to board a flight back to London three days ago.

A Foreign Office spokesman said today: ‘We are in touch with a British woman detained in the UAE, we are supporting her family, and we are in contact with the local authorities.’

Brooke’s family claim she was first wooed by the man she stabbed to death before being exploited by him, alleging he prevented her from returning to the UK.

Ms Stirling said Brooke is being held in custody at the Bur Dubai Police Station and should be granted bail by authorities in the emirate.

‘Her world has been shattered and her family left in tears,’ she added.

Ms Stirling said the case reflects a disturbing pattern of young British women being lured to Dubai with promises of romance and luxury, only to be exploited – sometimes sexually.

Brooke’s mother, Thereza George, said she spoke to her daughter before and after the stabbing.

She said: ‘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. 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.’

Campaigners say Brooke met the 26-year-old man during an earlier trip, when he allegedly arranged a photoshoot and appeared ‘very nice’.

But on her return, he is accused of taking her passport and launching a violent attack.

She claims he assaulted her in a car after a night out at Caffreys Bar in Jumeirah Village before continuing the attack at his flat.

Fearing for her life, Brooke says she grabbed a kitchen knife ‘within her grasp’ and stabbed him.

She took back her passport, left the flat and later tried to flee the UAE but was arrested at Dubai airport and charged with murder.

Brooke is now being held in custody at Bur Dubai Police Station.

Her family claim she was forced to strip naked in front of male officers, denied legal representation and left unable to understand proceedings due to a language barrier.

They say she had earlier raised the alarm with loved ones in the UK after discovering he had only booked her a one-way ticket and had become controlling and abusive.

Friends helped her arrange a flight home – but she returned to the flat to retrieve her passport, where she alleges she was punched again.

Ms Stirling said the case highlights growing concerns around influencers and young women being ‘lured’ to the emirate under false pretenses.

She said: ‘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.’

She added that there have been increasing reports of women being drawn to Dubai with promises of luxury lifestyles, paid work or romance – only to later allege sexual exploitation, coercion and violence.

‘Those closest to Brooke feared she had been targeted,’ she said.

‘Their concerns were fuelled by his sudden change in behaviour, the one-way ticket, the photoshoot, the alleged withholding of her passport and her growing fear she needed to escape.’

Ms Stirling also called on UAE authorities to examine all devices and communications linked to the man to determine whether others may have been victims.

‘Multiple witnesses saw visible injuries immediately after the incident,’ she said.

‘Investigators must consider the possibility Brooke was a victim of serious violence, not just a suspect – and ensure she receives medical care, legal support and immediate British consular assistance.’