Mohammed El Zubaidy was handed a 12-month jail term at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

A man who took his two daughters from their mother and left them with relatives in Libya nearly eight years ago has been jailed for a fifth time.

Sir Jonathan Cohen handed Mohammed El Zubaidy a 12-month jail term at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Friday.

The judge concluded that El Zubaidy had breached orders made during a High Court fight with estranged wife Tanya Borg and was in contempt.

Ms Borg has been fighting to get Angel El Zubaidy, now 22, and her 11-year-old sister Maya back to Britain since El Zubaidy left them with his mother in Tripoli in early 2015, judges have heard.

El Zubaidy, 44, had been given a 12-month term in 2017, separate jail terms of two years and 12 months in 2018, and another 12-month term in 2021.

Sir Jonathan said Libyan law prevented El Zubaidy’s daughters leaving Libya without his consent.

“The children are being kept in a country which the father himself as described as dangerous.”

Barrister Richard Bentwood, who represented El Zubaidy, argued that there was no point in jailing El Zubaidy again – and said “enough is enough”.

He added: “Mr El Zubaidy informs the court he will not comply with further orders – he will not comply any further.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/jonathan-libya-high-court-london-maya-b1047844.html