Concern after British couple detained in Iran 'suddenly whisked' to courtroom

A British couple detained in Iran have been "suddenly whisked" to a courtroom in the country's capital, Tehran, their family have said.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested in January during a round-the-world motorbike trip and were later charged with espionage - allegations the couple deny. Their son, Joe Bennett, said the family were informed the pair, from East Sussex, appeared in court in Tehran on Wednesday with a "state-appointed lawyer they only just met".

"We cannot see how [this] could be considered to be a fair trial," he added. Mr Bennett's family said they are "deeply concerned" that they had no prior knowledge of the hearing being organised or carried out.

Earlier this month, the couple spoke to their family for the first time in seven months. They later said they were "seriously worried" about them after they were moved to one of Iran's "harshest prisons".

Through their adviser, Radd Seiger, the family have now requested a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy to ensure efforts are made to secure the couple's return to the UK as urgently as possible. Mr Bennett said the latest court update has raised the family's concerns about their well-being.

"The ambassador was due to visit Craig yesterday but that did not happen," he said. "We are not sure if the ambassador went and Craig was not there because he was whisked away to court.

"This is deeply worrying, because it has been well over three-and-a-half months since Craig was last seen. "At that time, he had already lost weight.

"Now, with no funds and no access to food beyond the bare minimum, I can only guess at how he must be." Read more from Sky News:UK plans to reimpose sanctions on Iran over nuclear weapon fearsUN staff pressure human rights chief to call Gaza a genocide The family said they understood Lindsay Foreman had been seen by ambassador Hugo Shorter on Wednesday and "provided with a comfort pack of essential supplies". Mr Bennett said the lack of transparency over the court hearing "only deepens our concern".

"We cannot see how being suddenly whisked into a courtroom with no warning, with a state-appointed lawyer they only just met, could be considered to be a fair trial," he said. "At least they saw each other, which must be some relief.

"Craig has now been in Evin Prison for 25 days without access to funds. "In Iran's prison system, detainees must rely on money credited to their accounts to buy food, clean water, and hygiene products.

"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has so far been unable to transfer money into Craig's account, leaving him without the essentials needed to survive. "The lack of transparency only deepens our concern." The FCDO has warned all British and British-Iranian nationals not to travel to Iran due to a "significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention".

A spokesperson for the FCDO said: "We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran. We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities.

"We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.".