When's Daddy Coming Home by Peter Margetts with John Cookson
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‘When’s Daddy Coming Home’ is a heartbreaking real life story that demands to be told. Anyone who is thinking of starting a business, in a country where they do not understand the legal system, must read this book. Also, in our current situation of emerging from a pandemic, it is timely to remember the ripple effect of the international financial crisis of 2008. Margetts’ experiences are narrated in first person, expressing the genuine feelings and emotions of an ordinary parent in an unbearable situation. This is not an easy read, and some of the phrases he uses may offend.
The tragic effects of a child’s enforced separation from a kind and loving parent are well documented. Most of the accounts I have read of this kind of life-altering loss have focused on situations where the mother is missing. The title of this book reminds the reader that the enforced removal of a darling Dad from his family is every bit as devastating as the loss of a dear Mum. When Peter Margetts was clapped into jail by the Dubai authorities, his only child was one year old. When he was eventually released, she was ten. The implications of these two simple facts will resonate with anyone who has ever raised a child.
The facts surrounding Margetts’ imprisonment are almost beyond belief. In Dubai, during the first few years of this century, the economy was booming, and it was common practice for expats to fund everything, from gym memberships to multi-million pound deals, with post-dated cheques. This method worked to everyone’s satisfaction, until the economy collapsed in 2008 and all those cheques bounced. The solution of the Dubai government, to the resulting financial confusion, was to lock up everyone who had written a post-dated cheque. The freedom of thousands of business people was taken away, rendering it impossible for them to pay their debts. In this situation, the smart thing for expats to do was to get themselves and their families on a plane home, before the police got around to knocking on their doors. Many of them did just that, abandoning their expensive cars at Dubai International airport.
At the time, Peter Margetts and his wife were recently married, with a baby daughter. They loved their lifestyle in Dubai, so they decided to stay and ‘face the music’. This turned out to be a disastrous choice. Imprisoned in a country where he did not speak the language, dependent on a lawyer who took the last of his money without providing representation and receiving only nominal support from the British Embassy, the unfortunate financier was dumped in Dubai Central jail, where he was left to rot.
Having recently read ‘The Secret Barrister’ and ‘A Bit of a Stretch’ by Chris Atkins, I admit I would not like to be caught up in the legal system of the UK, any more than that of Dubai. However, I did learn that, when accused of a crime, the first rule of survival is to find effective legal representation. Margetts tried to do this, but was cheated by a solicitor who only showed up in court once, after taking the last of his money. Secondly, if given a custodial sentence, it is vital to become part of a group of prisoners with whom you have something in common, for protection. Finally, you must keep your head down, and find a way of making a positive impression on the authorities. Margetts scored high, literally, on the second and third points, by setting up a football contest between prisoners of different nationalities. The prison governor was sufficiently impressed to arrange for the awards to be presented by Diego Maradonna, who brought Margetts a moment of joy in the midst of torment.
Unfortunately, Margetts never found a lawyer who was able to get him out of jail. His eventual release, after nine years of suffering, was arranged by a means that made my jaw drop. I’m sure other readers will have the same reaction. I recommend ‘When’s Daddy Coming Home’ to readers who enjoy human interest stories, and can cope with disturbing accounts of prison life in Dubai.
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: The Conrad Press (2 Mar. 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 191154697X
ISBN-13: 978-1911546979
