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A heartbroken family whose daughter was raped and murdered in Qatar has accused David Beckham of 'naivety' over his £150million World Cup deal - asking 'How can he think it is a safe place for people to go?'.

Grieving mother Alison Patterson, 56, said she felt like the England football captain was putting money before human rights and justice.

Her daughter Lauren was teaching at a primary school in the capital Doha when she went missing in October 2013.

Her body was found in the desert after she was raped and murdered by Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr.

Lauren's family were told he would face the death sentence but was given a paltry ten-and-a-half year jail sentence and her family offered just £200,000 compensation, which barely covers their legal, travel and accommodation costs so far.

And as they pursued further civil legal action they were stunned when Beckham was announced as the face of the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the country for a reported £150million over ten years.

It felt like a slap to the face of the family who feel they have been unable to get justice for their daughter from the country. 

Mother-of-three Alison said: 'David Beckham is wonderful at what he does for football but he needs to look at the human rights in Qatar. He is being very naïve.

Lauren Patterson was 24 when she was raped and murdered in Doha by Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr in 2013

Alison Patterson with husband Kevin Crotty have been left devastated by the court proceedings and lack of justice

David Beckham and Qatari track and field athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim, centre, at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Countdown

Badr Hashim Khamis Abdallah al-Jabr got a paltry sentence and Lauren's family offered just £200,000 in compensation

'He must have heard about Lauren, he must have seen all the other things that have gone on out there.

'I don't understand how he can represent a country that cannot give justice.

'To be an ambassador for Qatar is like saying to all the people who look up to Beckham that everything is fine out there.

'I would love more than anything to sit opposite him and ask him: 'Why are you doing this?' How can you represent a country like Qatar when there are all these things going on in the background'?

'Do you think Qatar is a safe place for people to go to?'

When Lauren went missing Alison and her retired bond broker husband Kevin Crotty, 60, flew out to the Middle East where the British Consul informed them the badly burned body of a woman had been found in the desert.

The couple were told identifying the remains would be 'too traumatic' and Alison gave police a DNA sample which proved the body was Lauren.

Abdallah al-Jabr, who was with her on the night she vanished, was arrested and her parents were told he would face the death penalty for her murder. 

 When Lauren went missing Alison and her retired bond broker husband Kevin Crotty, 60, flew out to the Middle East

Lauren Patterson was teaching at a primary school in the capital Doha when she went missing in October 2013 in Doha

But after being given just 10-and-a-half-years for the murder Alison and Kevin, Lauren's stepdad, fear al-Jabr could soon be freed.

They are quietly furious that former Manchester Utd hero Beckham is backing Qatar especially as the footballer met Lauren when she was a young girl.

Retired reflexologist Alison was giving birth to her youngest child in London's Portland Hospital while Victoria Beckham was there having Brooklyn.

'Lauren was 10-year-old at the time, it was the same evening that Brooklyn was born and she met David Beckham in a lift. 

'She was quite in awe of him and especially of his wife being in the Spice Girls.'

Beckham has come under intense criticism over the deal and it was claimed his team had wanted to try and keep it secret for as long as possible.

As well as the World Cup, his role is understood to involve him promote tourism and culture in Qatar over the next decade. 

Kevin and Alison are pursuing legal action against the Qatari authorities in the civil courts because of criminal failings

It was a million to one chance that the body of murdered teacher Lauren Patterson was ever found after she was killed in Doha

Abdallah al-Jabr was given the death sentence but it was subsequently downgraded to just over a decade behind bars

The loss of Lauren, pictured here with a friend, is felt all year round but also very keenly at Christmas by her family

Lauren's parents , who have retired to a country cottage in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, today urged Unicef goodwill ambassador Beckham to reconsider his association with Qatar.

Alison added: 'He's been brought in to make what isn't right appear right. He should think again.

'He's promoting it as a safe place to go to and we don't think it is.'

Meanwhile the couple are continuing to fight for justice for Lauren and say they will never give up.

The pair have visited Qatar more than 30 times over the last eight years and had to stand within touching distance of their daughter's killer in court.

In March 2014 Jabr was given the death sentence after the public prosecutor described Lauren's death as 'heinous and shocking to Qatar society'.

At Jabr's appeal Alison was asked to opt for 'retribution, compensation or forgiveness'. When she stood up in court and said: 'I do not forgive' the judge stood by the original death sentence.

But in May 2018 the decision was overturned by the Court of Cassation, the highest level of the Qatari judicial system.

The couple have since hand-delivered letters to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, asking him to intervene in the case but never received a response.

Alison said: 'From the start we took the decision to respect their laws and systems, we didn't want to rock the boat.

'But it is farcical and no parents should be put through what we've endured over the last eight years

'At one court hearing I had to stand next to my daughter's killer as a re-enactment video was played to the court.

'I literally had to watch as he did all the things he did to Lauren on a screen and I was so close I could have touched him.

'It was all in Arabic, I can remember standing there and my legs were like jelly.

'Kevin wasn't allowed to hold my hand or stand next to me for support, you're not allowed to do that over there.'

The couple never wanted Jabr to be executed for the murder but hoped a death sentence would mean he would be locked up for life.

Instead they have been told he could be released in 2023, just months after the World Cup tournament.

Alison said: 'For what he did and the way he did it he's not someone who deserves to have his freedom - ever.

'He's dangerous man, if you've got the mindset to go to those lengths then surely he could do it again.

'When he is freed he can get married, have children and live his life to the full.

'Lauren had everything to live for, but she won't ever experience any of those things. All that's been taken away.

'Two of her closest friends are getting married this year - I can't help but think that could have been Lauren.'

More than £40,000 was raised through an online Justice for Lauren appeal, the couple have downsized their home and taken out loans.

Alison said: 'On numerous occasions I've thought I can't do this any more, the constant battles, the back and for visits to Qatar.

'For the last eight years every part of my life has been about trying to get justice for Lauren. It never goes away.

'It's still not finished, we still want justice for Lauren. But if I'm honest I don't think that will ever happen.'

A Qatari official insisted the country was safe and said their thoughts were with Lauren's family.

They added: 'Crime prevention, and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all women in Qatar have always been a top priority. This is reflected in the fact that Qatar has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s safest countries.

'We remain committed to enforcing protections for women and providing access to justice. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family as they continue to mourn their loss.'

Beckham's representatives declined to comment.