Gibbons 'very sorry' to leave Sudan

Gillian Gibbons has said she is "very sorry" to leave Sudan despite her four month trip culminating in an ominous denouement.

The 54-year-old teacher from Liverpool left the UK in July to fulfil her lifelong ambition of working abroad.

But, in her own words, Ms Gibbons got "a bit more of an adventure than she was hoping for", after she was convicted for insulting Islam and sentenced to serve 15 days in jail.

But after two British Muslim peers travelled on a diplomatic mission to negotiate Ms Gibbons' release with Sudan's president, the schoolteacher landed safely at Heathrow this morning.

At a press conference this morning, Ms Gibbons said the experience of being incarcerated was "terrifying" but she had been "well treated in prison".

She said Sudanese officials treated her with kindness and she was transferred by the country's interior ministry to a cell with a proper bed.

Sitting beside her two children, Ms Gibbons said: "I never imagined this would happen. I am just an ordinary primary school teacher.

"I am very sorry to leave Sudan. I had a fabulous time. It is a beautiful place and I had a chance to see some of the countryside.

"The Sudanese people I found to be extremely kind and generous and until this happened I only had a good experience."

"I wouldn't like to put anyone off going to Sudan."

She specifically expressed her gratitude to Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi who proved pivotal in having the conviction overturned.

The two peers travelled back from Sudan with Ms Gibbons this morning.

Ms Gibbons appears to have been oblivious of the fierce political debate her circumstances provoked, only learning the true extent of the furore upon release.