British grandmother jailed by Turkish police for two days with no food or water ... for teaching a boy to speak

Ann Ward, 55, said she was made to sleep on the floor, deprived of food and drink and threatened with prison when she asked to see a lawyer.

The grandmother-of-four was held with a second British woman after police raided a school in the Mediterranean resort of Marmaris and said they were working without official permits.

But special needs teacher Mrs Ward said she was only helping a young Turkish boy with a speech impediment, and Lisa Shipway, 29, was on a week's trial at the school while her teaching diplomas were assessed by Turkish authorities.

Furious: Deportation teachers Ann Ward and Lisa Shipway at the School House Nursery in Marmaris

Mrs Ward, of Stamford, Lincolnshire, said British Consulate staff refused to visit them and told them it was 'a paperwork matter'.

The pair were deported back to Britain last night and told of their gruelling ordeal.

Mrs Ward said: 'I didn't even realise I was doing anything wrong. I never thought I would be abused and treated like a criminal.

'We were deprived of our basic human rights and treated like animals.

'The police refused to get food for us saying they had no money but sat and stuffed their faces on pasties and pastries, laughing and joking in front of us. It was very frightening.

'We we needed the toilet a policeman came into the men's toilets with us and at night I just curled up on a wooden floor with policemen leering at us through the open door.'

The women's ordeal began on Wednesday when police raided the English-language School House Nursery school in Marmaris, saying they were looking for staff without work permits.

Detention: The police station where the two teachers were held for three days

Angry: Ann Ward flies back today

Mrs Ward was at the school working with a five-year-old Turkish boy called Enver (corr). She was working for his parents but was using the school's classroom.

She and Miss Shipway were taken into custody and transferred to Mugla police station, and said British Consulate staff refused to visit them.

Miss Shipway,  from Northfield in Birmingham, said: 'We contacted the British Consulate in Marmaris but were told that it was a paperwork matter and there was nothing they could do to help us.'

In Mugla, they were kept for seven hours in 35C heat without any water, and said police became angry when they asked to see a lawyer and interpreter.

Mrs Ward said: 'They said we could see a solicitor -- but only in prison. I started to panic. I've seen Midnight Express and would rather die than face five minutes in a Turkish jail.

'We had to beg them for food and water. When a couple of young policemen offered to get us water their senior officer glared at them and demanded to know why they were helping us.

'They soon learnt to ignore us and it was finally the cleaner who took pity on us. He went out and bought us a chicken burger and made us salad. I'll never forget his kindness.

'When we asked for breakfast we were refused, but we begged and promised to pay and finally we were given a piece of bread with tomato paste and ONE slice of cucumber and they claimed that cost 20 lira -- the equivalent of £8.

Mrs Ward said they were forced to sleep on the police station's wooden floor instead of bunk beds in the cells, and said police accompanied them every time they used the toilet.

Miss Shipway added: 'One particular policeman always wanted to come with me to the toilet. They made us use the men's toilets and came inside with us.

'I asked him to wait outside but he refused and started asking if I was married or had a boyfriend. I was really frightened and when another officer came in I just fled back to the room with Ann.'

The women were deported from Dalaman Airport last night and put on a plane to Birmingham. They said they were not allowed to see a solicitor and only had a translator when they read and signed their police statement.

Mrs Ward said: 'I can't believe how we've been treated. I loved Turkey and wanted to make a life for myself there. I can't believe this has happened to me. I'm being treated like a criminal and yet I've done nothing wrong.'

A Foreign Office spokeswoman insisted the women had been given consular assistance but refused to give any further details.

She said: 'Two British nationals were detained on May 28 for working without a work permit in Marmaris. We are giving consular assistance.'