• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Man arrested after leaving one Google review which left him in a 'living nightmare' returns home for Christmas

Home> Community> Life

Published 16:04 22 Dec 2024 GMT

Man arrested after leaving one Google review which left him in a 'living nightmare' returns home for Christmas

Craig Ballentine was detained in Abu Dhabi earlier this year

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

A man who was arrested after leaving a negative Google review has returned home in time for Christmas.

Northern Ireland man Craig Ballentine was arrested in Abu Dhabi airport back in October after posting the review about his former employers in Dubai.

Radha Stirling, who helps tourists through legal issues in the UAE, said Ballentine made the comments about a dog grooming salon where he spent six months working in 2023.

Ballentine said he needed time off from work due to illness and presented his employer with medical certificates to facilitate that.

Advert

Ballentine was arrested in Abu Dhabi back in October (GoFundMe)
Ballentine was arrested in Abu Dhabi back in October (GoFundMe)

But the Dubai dog groomers reported him as 'absconded' to local authorities, and he was ultimately forced to return to the UK.

Ballentine wrote the critical Google review when he was back on home soil, which led to his arrest on slander charges while he was on holiday in Abu Dhabi.

Ballentine said he had paid a fine and been given a one-month social media ban, according to the BBC - though there remained a possibility Ballentine would have had to stay in the UAE over Christmas due to a court hearing early next year.

Advert

And while Ballentine may have to return in January for that, he did return back home to his family in Northern Ireland on Thursday (December 19).

BBC News NI spoke to him shortly after he touched down at Dublin Airport earlier this week.

"It has been very overwhelming, because it has been quite confusing," he said.

"It has been a Christmas miracle."

Advert

Ballentine has retuned home in time for Christmas (BBC)
Ballentine has retuned home in time for Christmas (BBC)

Ballentine added: "The happiness kicked in when I just arrived at Dublin Airport, when I saw Dublin from the sky, that was it.

"I will have an extra big fry in the next hour or two and then it will be mainly focusing on seeing friends and family.

"On Christmas Eve, we are going to do the 12 pubs of Christmas - there are a few friends from Liverpool coming over, we do it every year - and I texted them this morning, saying, 'I'm coming'."

Advert

Before Ballentine was granted permission to return home for the festive season, a GoFundMe was set up with the slogan 'Help Bring Craig Home!'.

"What started out as a holiday to catch up with friends for Craig has turned out to be a living nightmare," the fundraiser said.

"We are asking for help to cover the financial burden that this case has taken on Craig who has been out of work due to the fiasco that his previous employer has caused.

"The burdening costs are crippling and any help will be greatly appreciated. At present legal fees are crippling and any money raised will go to help clearing these costs."

Featured Image Credit: BBC News

Topics: Travel, UK News, Crime

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Woman who filmed CEO and employee on Coldplay jumbotron speaks out after shocking video goes viral

    The concert goer filmed the now viral moment and posted it to TikTok

    Community
  • 12 hours ago

    Man named Andy Byron speaks out after being mistaken for CEO caught with employee on Coldplay jumbotron

    Businessowner Andy Byron had to make clear he was 'not that Andy Byron' after the CEO of Astronomer went viral

    Community
  • 13 hours ago

    People point out Chris Martin’s ‘messy’ reaction after CEO caught with employee on Coldplay kiss cam

    Martin admitted he wasn't 'sure what to do' after Andy Byron disappeared from the camera

    Community
  • 15 hours ago

    Truth behind viral statement after married CEO caught with employee on Coldplay jumbotron

    The statement attributed to Andy Byron emerged on an X account belonging to 'Peter Enis'

    Community
  • Man arrested and facing jail after leaving one Google review that's left him in 'living nightmare'
  • Olympian's life turned into 'living nightmare' after she made a massive mistake at grocery store
  • Shocking update in case of student who went missing in Thailand and arrested more than 4,000 miles away
  • Man arrested for setting governor's home on fire gives chilling reason to police for why he did it