One Google Review Turns Man's Life Upside Down, Leaving Him Facing Jailtime

The Google review that changed everything.

Jesse

• Published in News
• December 21, 2024

The internet has given us a platform to express our thoughts, share experiences, and, of course, leave reviews. Whether it's to praise a restaurant for a perfect meal or criticize a company for poor service, reviews have become a way to hold businesses accountable.

But what happens when leaving one seemingly harmless review spirals into a life-changing ordeal? For most of us, that might sound like the plot of a courtroom drama or the premise of a suspenseful movie. Unfortunately for Craig Ballentine, this nightmare has become a startling reality.

Imagine traveling to meet friends for a relaxing holiday, only to find yourself being escorted to a police station over something you wrote online months ago. You're confused, helpless, and suddenly in the middle of an ordeal that you never saw coming.

It’s a scenario that few can comprehend, but this is exactly the position Craig finds himself in. Now, instead of looking forward to a festive Christmas with family, Craig faces the possibility of spending the holidays trapped far from home, thousands of miles away in the United Arab Emirates.

It all started with a Google review — one post, written from frustration, that has now turned his world upside down.

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In October, Ballentine’s trip went south when he was stopped and arrested at Abu Dhabi airport.

Craig Ballentine’s ordeal began innocently enough. After spending six months working at a dog grooming salon in Dubai, he became unwell and was unable to continue working.

He presented his employers with valid medical certificates, hoping that they would understand his ordeal. Instead, things took an unexpected turn—his employers reported him as ‘absconded’ to Dubai’s local authorities.

This report, Craig claims, forced him to leave the UAE and return to the UK.

In annoyance, Ballentine penned a scathing Google review

Like many people, Craig turned to Google reviews to vent his frustration. He posted a negative comment about his former employers, probably thinking it was just a way to get things off his chest. What he didn’t realize was that those few words would come back to turn his life upside down.

In October, while passing through Abu Dhabi airport on holiday, Craig was arrested. Local authorities charged him with slander over the critical review and detained him. In a foreign land and unsure what lay ahead, Craig faced a fine and a one-month social media ban. But even after paying the fine, his ordeal wasn’t over.

Craig shared his emotional struggle with BBC News NI, saying: "I called friends and family and couldn't stop crying... you're holding on to those emotions, you're just trying to focus on 'let's get out of here.' And then everything collapsed."

Though he was hoping to fly back home as soon as possible, Craig discovered that the court had filed an appeal against his case. The prospect of spending Christmas alone in the UAE loomed large, with no clear resolution in sight.

Friends and family have rallied behind him, starting a GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Bring Craig Home!” to alleviate the financial burden of legal fees. The fundraiser reads: “What started out as a holiday to catch up with friends for Craig has turned out to be a living nightmare.”

As Craig prepares for an uncertain festive season, his loved ones hold onto hope that he will soon return home.

Jesse