(London, UK) - Grooverider, one of the founding fathers of the UK’s drum and bass scene, has now admitted that he was guilty of the possession of cannabis, the crime for which he is currently being held in Dubai.

Grooverider has been held in a holding cell at Dubai International Airport since his arrest on Friday 23 November 2007, as we’ve reported, but now it seems that there’s been a development in his case: during a recent court appearance, local newspaper the 7 Days reported him as saying to the judge, ‘The drugs were in my possession and I forgot I had them in my trousers.’

Grooverider, who is in the words of Fabio, his regular DJ partner since the 90s, ‘…so completely teetotal’ (from an interview with DJ History.com back in 2005 - and presumably meaning he doesn’t take chemicals), has been in contact with the British Consulate, the traditional route to aid for a Briton in trouble abroad. Unfortunately, in Groove’s own words to the Sunday Mirror, ‘The British Consulate officials are a joke. They just threw me leaflets and that was that.’

The drum and bass DJ had been travelling into Dubai for a gig at the Lodge club, which obviously failed to take place. He was initially arrested at the airport, for being found with a joint and some pornographic DVDs - both of which are illegal in the United Arab Emirates. However the pornography was not mentioned in court, so hopefully that charge has been dismissed.

Groove commented, ‘It’s ridiculous. I must have forgotten the spliff. It was a small amount. Back home I would not even get prosecuted.’
The still-incarcerated DJ added, ‘I just want this to end, I want to leave (Dubai) and never come back.’