A British comedian has spoken out after being arrested in Turkey for allegedly leaving a Zara store without paying for three items. Cerys Nelmes, a stand-up comic and mother of one, could face up to three years in prison if found guilty of theft from the Istanbul branch on July 22.
Footage shows Nelmes browsing with clothes on hangers and items in her backpack before exiting while distracted by her phone. She claims she simply forgot she was carrying unpaid goods, and later returned voluntarily to the store. However, she was detained and locked in a room for hours before being taken to a police station, where she says she was pressured to sign documents in Turkish, a language she cannot read.
Nelmes was released on probation after 24 hours in a holding cell, but has been banned from leaving the country pending trial. She has racked up over £6,500 in legal costs and has been taken in by a local family as she cannot afford accommodation. 'I have been left to fend for myself. My country are not helping me whatsoever,' she said on Instagram.
The items were valued at around £110, and Nelmes says one has since been paid for. She faces a minimum one-year sentence, with the maximum being three years. The police investigation is ongoing, and she remains stranded in Turkey, missing work in the UK and risking losing her home.
