A British comedian faces up to three years in Turkish prison after walking out of a Zara store without paying – despite going back to apologise when she realised her mistake.
Cerys Nelmes, a stand-up comic from the Cotswolds, was shopping at the clothing store in Istanbul on July 22 when she says she absentmindedly left before ringing up her purchases.
She claims she returned to the store to hand back the items and offered to pay, but was instead detained, locked in a room for hours without explanation, and eventually arrested for shoplifting.
Ms Nelmes said she was taken to a police station, pressured to sign documents in a language she could not read, and held in a cell for 24 hours with no food, toilet or water.
The comedian, who once played a paramedic in medical drama Casualty, said: ‘I was told they didn’t understand me.’
The next day, she was brought before a judge who released her but banned her from leaving the country.
She now faces a potential three-year sentence as the case proceeds.
Nelmes says she is stranded in Turkey, unable to afford accommodation and missing out on work back home, putting her and her son at risk of losing their UK home.
British comedian Cerys Nelmes (pictured), from the Cotswolds, was arrested after walking out of a Zara store in Turkey without paying – in what she says was an innocent mistake
Ms Nelmes claims she returned to the store to hand back the items and offered to pay, but was instead detained, locked in a room for hours without explanation, and eventually arrested for shoplifting
Nelmes now says she is stranded in Turkey, unable to afford accommodation and missing out on work back home, but posted on Instgram to say she had been taken in by a Turkish family
She said: ‘I’m ok and have been taken in by a Turkish family who gave me food and a bed.’
Ms Nelmes describes herself on her website as a ‘leading mc on the comedy circuit’ and regularly gigs for the UK military – including being the last comedian to perform for UK troops before they withdrew from Afghanistan.
Her acting roles have included Casualty and JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy.
Alongside her comedy performances, she also made headlines in April 2019 when she saved a fellow diner from choking at a restaurant before a gig.
The comedian was grabbing a bite to eat in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, when she peformed the Heimlich manoeuvre to dislodge a prawn that was stuck in a woman’s throat.
In a post on social media speaking about her detention and subsequent stranding in Turkey, she said: ‘On Tuesday I left a Zara store in Istanbul without paying for items.
‘I returned straight away and handed the items to staff. I was asked to pay and I said I would and the manager accepted this.
‘To cut a long story short I was then taken to a locked room where hours later after no communication from anyone I was taken away by police and held in a police station and was asked to sign things I couldn’t read.
Ms Nelmes was arrested after being accused of stealing items from clothing store Zara in Instanbul (file photo, not store mentioned in story)
Ms Nelmes describes herself on her website as a ‘leading mc on the comedy circuit’ and regularly gigs for the UK military – including being the last comedian to perform for UK troops before they withdrew from Afghanistan
‘I was put in a prison cell for 24 hours with no food or toilet facilities. When I asked for water, I was told they didn’t understand me.
‘I was handcuffed and taken for fingerprints and mugshots at 3am. I was handcuffed and taken to court the following day and put in a cell.
‘I appeared before the judge and was told by a translator that I was released, but unable to leave Turkey for an undetermined amount of time.
‘He said I was lucky to not be put in prison but I currently face up to three years. I have to report to a local police station every Monday.
‘I am lucky I have good friends in Turkey who are currently looking after me, and trying to translate the paperwork.
‘I have no money, no earnings coming in from home, and I am running out of important medication. I will lose my home which I share with my son, and livelihood.
‘I am not looking for sympathy. I made a mistake which I tried to immediately rectify. I am embarrassed for my friends, my family, and I have made my 78-year-old mum unwell. I will never forgive myself for what I have done.’
An Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said: ‘We are providing support to a British national in Turkey.’
Zara has been contacted for comment.
