A FATHER has spoken about his fears for his daughter who is being held in a Portuguese prison.

Sophie Grey, who is from Monmouth but lives in the south of France, was arrested in Portugal in April. Since then she has been held in Tires prison near Lisbon awaiting a court date.

Her father Roger Grey, who lives near Monmouth, said he is worried that she could get a prison sentence and that the stress of the case has been affecting his health.

According to Mr Grey, the 25-year-old was visiting friends near Lisbon, and walking her dog when she saw her boyfriend in an altercation with Portuguese police. She went to the scene and she was also arrested.

Although the exact charges are unclear, Mr Grey says she has been charged with assaulting a policeman and that her dog bit an officer, although he understands that his daughter denies this charge and he believes there is no evidence of this.

Miss Grey is due to appear in court on September 22 and her father is worried about the possible outcome of the case.

He said: “I am worried she could get a prison sentence for what appears to me a minor, spur of the moment, incident. On the charge sheet it says the maximum sentence is five years in prison, and she has already been on remand in prison for three months, so I am concerned.”

A Foreign Office Spokesman said: “We are continuing to support a British woman held in pre-trial detention in Portugal and remain in contact with the local authorities.”

David Davies MP has shared his anger and concerns over the case and has asked UK officials to look into the case.

He said: “She was in Portugal when the incident happened and has been in jail over there for over 10 weeks.“In Britain it’s different because you are arrested then released and brought back before the courts. They have said they won’t let her out until the thing goes to trial. It could even be six months before she goes to trial.

“It is discriminatory. We are still part of the EU. As a previous police special constable I think this is outrageous. I have discussed this with Boris Johnson and I have spoken to the Portuguese ambassador about her treatment. Boris Johnson’s officials will look into it and I am generally trying to raise this matter.”

Mr Grey says he has been working to get his daughter released before the court date, but authorities have said she could abscond, even though they have confiscated her passport.

The family have been to visit Miss Grey, and say she is dealing with her situation. Her solicitor is Francisco Teixeira da Mota, who is based in Lisbon and the family’s day-to-day contact is his daughter, also a solicitor, Luisa Roger.

Mr Grey said: “My other children have been to visit her and I have visited her, she is only allowed one phone call day. I have been worried about mental state, she is in prison with murderers and women jailed for drug smuggling. She is being treated reasonably well in prison and she coping quite well

“It has affected me. I haven’t been very well and this isn’t helping matters. It has caused a lot of worry and stress. We are all very concerned about Sophie.”