A TEARFUL Hampshire bride today pleaded with the authorities not to throw her Turkish husband out of Britain.

Jacqueline Yalcin, 46, married 26-year-old Bulent four months ago after a whirlwind romance.

But yesterday her dream turned into a nightmare when immigration officials turned up at her Marchwood home to deport him. Now Jacqueline is facing up to the prospect of the man she fell in love with last year being sent 1,500 miles across Europe.

She was due to hear today whether Bulent's 18-month stay in Britain was over or if he has been granted a reprieve.

Police and Home Office officials turned up at the couple's Africa Drive home yesterday demanding to see Bulent, who until the beginning of this year worked in a Bitterne burger van.

He was kept in custody at Southampton police station while Home Office bosses sought a rushed decision on an appeal to stay in England, which Bulent lodged when he first arrived here without documentation 18 months ago.

While Bulent spent last night in a police cell, his wife waited anxiously at home to hear the crucial outcome.

"I thought we were all right," said Jacqueline, who has four children from a previous marriage. "We were told by the solicitor that somebody might come to the door but he said they could do nothing while this appeal was in progress.

"I went to the police station but they wouldn't let me see him so now we just have to wait."

She said she felt helpless and confused, bewildered by a system which seemed to punish someone who had spent his life trying to do the right thing.

"I really don't know what we can do," said Jacqueline, a project worker for children with learning difficulties.

"We have done it legitimately, contacted a solicitor, not been secretive about anything, not run off - we even sat in the garden together waiting for the police to come back and pick Bulent up.

"It almost seems like we're being punished for be-ing honest."

The pair married in February after a whirlwind romance that started when they first saw each other in South-ampton's La Mar-gherita restaurant in July 2002.

Bulent was living with cousins at the time and the pair began going out. He moved into Jacqueline's home in December and popped the question around the same time.

Two months later they were married at a spectacular white wedding at Ringwood register office.

Bulent's family even celebrated with a party at their home in Iskenderun, Turkey.

Now the fairytale is under threat. If the immigration officials reject Bulent's appeal, he could be forced on to a Turkey-bound plane in a matter of days.

"I'd be gutted if he went - absolutely devastated," said Jacqueline. "He doesn't deserve this. He's never had a penny of benefits. He was kept by his family when he first came here, then had a job on a burger van and now I look after him.

"He's quite proud. He's never wanted money off the state. All he wants is to be allowed to work."

Her daughter Samantha Monks, 20, also spoke out in support of her new step-father, who she says has been welcomed straight into the close-knit family.

"People say 'Here we go. She's 46, he's 26," but it's not like that. He's absolutely besotted with Mum. He hates it even when she goes to work," she said.

"We were due to have a family barbecue today, but I don't think that's going to happen now."