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Jeremy Forrest trial: Teacher 'feared girl was suicidal' Jeremy Forrest trial: Teacher 'feared girl was suicidal'
(35 minutes later)
A schoolgirl has told a court her married maths teacher travelled with her to France because he feared she might kill herself. A schoolgirl has told a court her married maths teacher travelled with her to France because he feared she might commit suicide.
The girl was 15 when she started a sexual relationship with 30-year-old Jeremy Forrest after developing a crush on him at school in East Sussex.The girl was 15 when she started a sexual relationship with 30-year-old Jeremy Forrest after developing a crush on him at school in East Sussex.
Mr Forrest booked them on a Channel ferry on 20 September before they spent seven days on the run in France.Mr Forrest booked them on a Channel ferry on 20 September before they spent seven days on the run in France.
He has denied a charge of child abduction at Lewes Crown Court.He has denied a charge of child abduction at Lewes Crown Court.
The girl, now 16, said she had been experiencing personal problems in the months leading up to the relationship with Mr Forrest, a teacher at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne.The girl, now 16, said she had been experiencing personal problems in the months leading up to the relationship with Mr Forrest, a teacher at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne.
They included her mother going through a divorce and then falling pregnant with a new partner. They included her mother going through a divorce and then finding a new partner and becoming pregnant.
The court heard the pair agreed to go to France after the girl had her phone seized by police investigating rumours of a relationship between them.The court heard the pair agreed to go to France after the girl had her phone seized by police investigating rumours of a relationship between them.
'In danger' 'I was desperate'
The girl said she planned to run away but Mr Forrest agreed to go with her to prevent her from getting into danger.The girl said she planned to run away but Mr Forrest agreed to go with her to prevent her from getting into danger.
"He tried to persuade me not to run away," she said."He tried to persuade me not to run away," she said.
"I said I was going and nobody was going to stop me. I was very determined and once I had an idea in my head nobody was going to stop me, not Jeremy, not anybody.""I said I was going and nobody was going to stop me. I was very determined and once I had an idea in my head nobody was going to stop me, not Jeremy, not anybody."
She said Mr Forrest was concerned that if she went on her own she would be in danger and it would be better if he went with her.
"I was very pleased," she said. "If Jeremy had said he wasn't coming with me, I would have dreaded what kind of situation I would have been in."
Describing her mood at the time, she said: "I felt very low indeed, I didn't know what to do, I was very desperate."Describing her mood at the time, she said: "I felt very low indeed, I didn't know what to do, I was very desperate."
When asked if she felt suicidal, the girl, who chose to give her evidence in court rather than by videolink, said: "Yes".When asked if she felt suicidal, the girl, who chose to give her evidence in court rather than by videolink, said: "Yes".
'Manipulated by police'
The girl told the court that Mr Forrest repeatedly asked her to return home but she refused.
"Numerous times on the way to France he would say he would give me the money so I could go home, but I didn't want to go home."
The girl said Mr Forrest was in tears as they drove.
She said she felt she had to run away because she did not want her mother to find out about a previous relationship as well as other personal issues she had been going through.
Speaking of her relationship with her mother, she said: "I didn't get on with her very well, I didn't like her, she wasn't supportive.
"When there's a divorce going on, the attention in the family is on the parents, not the children."
She said she also felt that her mother might throw her out of home.
The girl said she started to develop a crush on Mr Forrest after he helped her with her personal problems.
She said she began to confide in him during a school trip to Los Angeles in February 2012 and that after he began to give her advice and support, her attendance and grades at school had improved.
The girl said she had previously fallen in with a bad crowd with whom she would take drugs and get into trouble.
She said that on the way home from LA she had held hands with Mr Forrest because she was having an anxiety attack because of her fear of flying.
"It wasn't hand-holding, it was squeezing hands. It wasn't affectionate, it was more caring."
The girl said she felt manipulated by the police after she was brought back to England from France.
She said she felt "if I didn't comply with what they (the police) were doing, I faced arrest".
The trial continues.The trial continues.