British comedian Cerys Nelmes caught on CCTV shoplifting in Zara in Turkey, forgets to pay

British comedian Cerys Nelmes, 47, is facing up to three years in a Turkish prison after allegedly walking out of a Zara store in Istanbul with $225 worth of clothes she had not paid for in her backpack.

CCTV footage reportedly shows Nelmes browsing the racks and leaving with several hangers and clothes in her white backpack. As she approached the exit, she appeared distracted by her phone and stepped through the doors, lingering outside before a shop worker brought her back inside.

Nelmes, from Bristol, explained to her followers: “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.”

Despite her claim that she offered to pay, Nelmes says she was taken into a locked room for several hours, then transferred to a police station where she was asked to sign documents she could not read.

“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,” she said.

She described her ordeal, stating she was kept in a cell for 24 hours “with no food or toilet facilities. When I asked for water, I was told they didn’t understand me”.

The following day, Nelmes was brought before a judge who released her on probation but imposed a travel ban, meaning she cannot leave Turkey while the investigation is ongoing.

The incident leaves Nelmes stranded in Turkey, unable to work and fearing she could lose her home in the UK.

She added, “I am ok and have been taken in by a Turkish family who have given me a bed and food. I don’t deserve all the kind words from people but I am very grateful.”