Talks are set to continue between Britain and the United Arab Emirates over the case of three men who allege they were tortured in Dubai.

David Cameron raised the case with Emirati President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday while Foreign Secretary William Hague also pressed the matter with his counterpart during a meeting.

Discussions will now continue through other official channels, government sources said.

Ahead of yesterday’s meeting the mother of one of the men urged Mr Cameron to push for the UAE to consider speedy pardons.

Tracy Cameron said it was vital the plight of the families was relayed to the President during his state visit.

It is alleged that Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, were abused by police.

Mr Williams and Grant Cameron, both from Wanstead, north-east London, and Mr Jeerh, from Ilford, east London, have been jailed for four years each for possessing drugs in Dubai.

They were convicted of possessing synthetic cannabis after being arrested in July last year while on holiday. Charges that they supplied the drug were dropped.

The men claim they signed documents in Arabic – a language none of them understands – following their arrests after they were threatened with guns to their heads.

Mr Williams also reported having electric shocks administered to his testicles.

Mrs Cameron, mother of Grant, said: “Obviously the main point of this state visit is to build upon their relations and I appreciate that trade is important between the two countries.”

She added: “It has been catastrophic for us as a family. As a mother it has been the most difficult challenge that I have had to deal with - hearing the atrocities against my son and the two other boys.