Tourist returns home after lost week

The couple will be staying at home in future

The partner of a tourist who spent six days sleeping rough after being left behind on an Italian coach tour has vowed never to go on holiday again.

Sheila Burt has now been reunited with Ismael Leon after the couple became separated on a day trip to Sorrento in southern Italy.

We don't go on holiday. It was the first time in four years

Sheila Burt

Spanish-born Mr Leon, who does not speak Italian and little English, spent six days wandering the streets searching for his hotel.

The antiques dealer only returned home to Yeovil in Somerset on Tuesday after Italian police found him at the weekend.

Ms Burt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that her partner was "very shaken" by his ordeal.

"He looked dreadful. He spent the week being so afraid," she said.

Waste bins

Mr Leon had slept rough in railway stations and on the beach hoping to remember the name of his hotel, she said.

Mr Leon is finally back from his travels

The 61-year-old was reduced to eating food from bins as Ms Burt had his credit cards, passport and tour details.

The coach party had spent two hours searching for Mr Leon before they returned to their hotel 90 miles away.

Ms Burt alerted the police in Sorrento who finally located Mr Leon on Sunday and took him to the Spanish embassy in Naples.

"We don't go on holiday. It was the first time in four years, " she said.

Asked if she would ever go on holiday again, she replied: "Never that's the end of it".

Tour operator, London-based Newmarket Tours, has denied being negligent.

In a statement, the company said staff had followed the statutory code of practice which was to search for 30 minutes, wait for a further 90 minutes and then leave.

Ms Burt is seeking compensation from the tour operator.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said the case seemed "bizarre".