Student Lauren Phillips was chucked into a Singapore jail - for trying to bring a toy plane home as a present for her dad.
 The 24-year-old was on the last stretch of a round-the-world backpacking trip with her pal when she was seized by customs officers and held for 10 hours. Today the psychology graduate relived her ordeal at the hands of over-zealous officials - and vowed never to return to Singapore. "We were in transit between Hanoi in Vietnam and Hong Kong," she said. "I was trying to pass through customs when it became apparent that a delicate, small, metal B52 aeroplane was a cause of concern. "It was a replica war plane with missile-shaped pieces on the wings which the police believed were actually bullets. I was shocked when they arrested me for suspected possession of live ammunition." Lauren, from Barrows Lane, Yardley, was searched and quickly taken to Bedok Police Station where she was locked in a filthy cell with five other women. The cell walls were covered with grime, ants swarmed all over the floor, and Lauren was given just a tiny bag of boiled rice to eat in over ten hours. Meanwhile, her friend Clare Inkster, from Lancaster, was completely in the dark about what was happening. The pair had graduated in June 2002 from Nottingham University where they had planned their dream trip. Just a few days before flying home Lauren bought the 15cm x 15cm model aeroplane in Ho Chi Minh City for less than £2 as a souvenir for her dad Chris. After analysis of the aeroplane missiles revealed they were harmless pieces of metal, Lauren was finally released. Lauren, who is now looking for a job in research and development, added: "Instead of apologising the officer gave me a verbal warning and told me how stupid I had been trying to board a plane with such an item. "It was a completely humiliating and terrifying experience. I will never go back to Singapore." Birmingham Yardley Labour MP Estelle Morris has written to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to make him aware of what happened. She said: "Lauren must have been very scared and it really shows the hazards you can come across when travelling abroad." Customs and Excise spokesman Mark Powell said: "It does sound bizarre but the thing to remember from our perspective is that we are looking for anything which might be sharp and used as a weapon." | 
