Further delays are stopping a Witney man, trapped in the Middle East for nearly two years, from coming home.

Businessman Jonathan Brown has been told that an appeal into his case will be heard by the Supreme Court in Oman on Christmas Day.

The 55-year-old had yesterday hoped to force the issue on what he considers to be his illegal detention by boarding a plane back to Britain.

Instead, he was summoned to a meeting with Judge Al Maamani, head of the commercial section of the Omani Supreme Court, along with representatives from the British consulate and embassy.

He was told that all aspects of his case would be reviewed at an appeal hearing.

Mr Brown has been unable to pay a £10,000 fine imposed by a civil court arising from a business project set up under a joint British and Omani development programme.

The ban on him leaving the country prevented him attending the funeral of his mother Ruth Brown, who died in May.

His sister Serena Martin, of Woodstock Road, Witney, said: "It seems like any excuse to prevaricate. Just as he announces his intention to leave the country, they come up with a meeting.

Mr Brown and his second wife Maryette have been living with friends while pursuing their legal battle to leave Oman. He has four children from his first marriage, aged 22, 20, 17 and 15, whom he has not seen for more than three years.