Family upset over waiter's jail term

Mehmet Ocak met Rachael Lloyd in Turkey

The grandmother of a north Wales teenager who ran away to Turkey to marry her boyfriend has spoke of her distress after hearing he has been jailed for statutory rape.

Mehmet Ocak was sentenced to a total of five years, three months and 10 days after being found guilty of the charges against him.

Carol Lloyd, Rachael's grandmother

Rachael Lloyd, 15, from Wrexham had flown back out to Turkey to testify at the trial of the 24-year-old bartender.

Her grandmother Carol Lloyd broke down in tears as she told BBC Wales how upset she was by the verdict.

"I'm totally devastated for Rachael's sake, I just don't know how she's going to take the news," she said.

"It was the one thing I hoped wouldn't happen.

"She's gone out there to plead for him.

I just want Rachael to be here with me, I want her to know that I love her, that I will always be there for her

Carol Lloyd, Rachael's grandmother

"I just hoped that he would get free, that she would come home and that she would forget him - but I don't think that's going to happen now.

"I think it's very cruel what's happened to him and unjustified.

"This is why I'm so upset for Rachael because she knows that this was her fault.

"She's got to live with that guilt now that he's in prison.

"I just want Rachael to be here with me, I want her to know that I love her, that I will always be there for her," she added.

Come home

Mr Ocak had denied the charges - claiming he did not know Ms Lloyd was 14 when their relationship began.

He claimed he thought she was 15 - the legal age of consent in Turkey.

I don't think she'll want to stay out there, I hope she'll come home

Carol Lloyd, Rachael's grandmother

Rachael, who calls her boyfriend Steve, had pledged to take the witness stand and speak in his defence.

She met him during a holiday in Marmaris with her grandmother.

She later returned to Turkey and became engaged in the presence of her grandmother and her older sister, according to the Turkish authorities.

Mrs Lloyd has not been able to reach her granddaughter.

However, she hopes she will return home on Thursday with her father as originally planned.

"I've tried to get in touch but her phone's switched off," she said.

"I don't think she'll want to stay out there, I hope she'll come home.

"I hoped that he wouldn't have got a jail sentence, because it could have been the end to all this," she said.