THE "marriage" of child bride Sarah Cook was in ruins last night as her Turkish husband was held in prison accused of having under age sex with the 13 year old Essex schoolgirl.
Mr Musa Komeagae (18), an unemployed waiter, faces up to five years in jail in Turkey after going through a Muslim wedding ceremony with the teenager.
Sarah, who has claimed to be "happily married" and even planned a child, was said to be increasingly "distressed" since Mr Komeagae's arrest.
Her parents have rejected claims that the relationship was immoral and last night left their home in Braintree, Essex, to be with their daughter in Mr Komeagae's home town of Kahrananmaras, in southern Turkey.
The British vice consul in Ankara. Mrs Trudi Pak, confirmed Sarah had been questioned by local police and had given a statement but had not been detained.
She said "Under Turkish law she is a child and has committed no crime. When I spoke to her earlier she sounded fine, but the last time we spoke she had talked to her mother and it had distressed her."
It is not known whether the girl would remain in Turkey or return home as legal proceedings got under way.
Mr Komeagae's lawyer, Mr Selim Surmen, said Sarah had consented to the relationship. He told the Anatolia news agency in Turkey "Sarah has said she will love Musa until death. There is no force used in this relationship. We'll appeal for his release."
Mr Komeagae will be formally charged with rape before a Turkish prosecutor today.
The Islamic priest who conducted the marriage service, which is not recognised under national law, has also been questioned by police and could face criminal charges, it also emerged.
In Turkey, women have to be at least 15 to wed legally with the parents' consent. Men can marry at 17 and sex with persons under 5 is illegal even if it is with consent.
The authorities arrested Mr Komeagae only after the case prompted huge media interest in Turkey and Britain.
"He has been arrested for having sex with an under age girl," the chief public prosecutor of Kahramanmaras said.
"The girl and the boy were questioned by a prosecutor because of the girl's youth, and she was sent to take a virginity test, which she tailed" he said.