Runaway’s boyfriend released

The schoolgirl met the barman, better known as Steve, while on holiday with her grandmother and sister in the Mediterranean resort of Marmaris last summer.

She then travelled back to Turkey to give evidence at his trial in February and watched tearfully as her boyfriend was sentenced.

But yesterday Ocak was freed from prison in south east Turkey having had his conviction overturned by the appeals court in May.

His lawyer, Yasar Saglam, said a new trial had been ordered – although a date has not been set – and the barman would be free until the outcome of the second hearing.

"He is very happy to be released," said Mr Saglam.

After Ocak was jailed, Rachael vowed she would stand by her man until he had served his sentence.

"I will love him forever," she said outside court. "Nothing will separate us. I will wait for him."

The pair got engaged before their illicit affair was discovered but have yet to marry.

In February the court found Ocak guilty of having sex with a minor – the age of consent is 15 in Turkey – and holding her against her will.

He was jailed for four years, 10 months and 10 days on the statutory rape charge and five months on a charge of holding her by force.

At the trial Ocak denied having sex with the schoolgirl and said he did not know Rachael was 14 at the time.

But later he told the court he did know she was 14 but he did not make her do anything against her will.
Rachael was reported missing on December 3 last year and was tracked down to Ocak’s home town of Gaziantep by Interpol and the Turkish police.
Her divorced father, Bob Lloyd, brought her home later that month.