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Teacher Jeremy Forrest guilty of schoolgirl abduction | Teacher Jeremy Forrest guilty of schoolgirl abduction |
(35 minutes later) | |
Teacher Jeremy Forrest has been found guilty of abducting a schoolgirl. | Teacher Jeremy Forrest has been found guilty of abducting a schoolgirl. |
The prosecution said Forrest, 30, of Petts Wood, south-east London, had groomed the pupil at Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne where he taught. | The prosecution said Forrest, 30, of Petts Wood, south-east London, had groomed the pupil at Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne where he taught. |
Lewes Crown Court heard the pair went to France when it became likely their relationship would be exposed. The girl was 15 years old at the time. | Lewes Crown Court heard the pair went to France when it became likely their relationship would be exposed. The girl was 15 years old at the time. |
Forrest chose not to give evidence in his defence. Sentencing has been adjourned until Friday morning. | |
The maths teacher was labelled a "paedophile" by the prosecution, who said he "groomed" the vulnerable teenager and his actions were a gross breach of trust. | |
'I love you' | 'I love you' |
The trial has heard the pupil had just turned 15 when she started a sexual relationship with Forrest after developing a crush on him. | The trial has heard the pupil had just turned 15 when she started a sexual relationship with Forrest after developing a crush on him. |
Forrest would pick the girl up in her school uniform and they would have sex in his car, in hotels and at his marital home, the court heard. | Forrest would pick the girl up in her school uniform and they would have sex in his car, in hotels and at his marital home, the court heard. |
Fearing they were about to be exposed, Forrest booked them on a cross-Channel ferry from Dover to Calais on 20 September last year. | Fearing they were about to be exposed, Forrest booked them on a cross-Channel ferry from Dover to Calais on 20 September last year. |
They spent seven days on the run in France before they were tracked down in Bordeaux. | |
Emily Forrest, who married the teacher in 2011, told the court that their marriage had fallen apart in the months before he disappeared with the girl. | |
Richard Barton, prosecuting, said Forrest's actions were an abuse of trust and he had not acted with the consent of the girl's parents. | Richard Barton, prosecuting, said Forrest's actions were an abuse of trust and he had not acted with the consent of the girl's parents. |
As the foreman of the jury announced the verdict, Forrest's victim put her head in her hands and burst out crying. | As the foreman of the jury announced the verdict, Forrest's victim put her head in her hands and burst out crying. |
As the jury arrived back in court, Forrest turned to her and said: "I love you." | As the jury arrived back in court, Forrest turned to her and said: "I love you." |
The girl said to the defendant: "I'm sorry" as he was taken to the cells. | The girl said to the defendant: "I'm sorry" as he was taken to the cells. |
School controversy | |
Sussex Police said Forrest was a teacher who had "grossly abused the trust placed in him". | |
In a statement read outside court by Det Insp Neil Ralph, the girl's mother thanked the Sussex force and the French authorities for ensuring her daughter's safe return. | |
"As a family, for the last nine months it's been like living out your worst nightmare," she said. | |
"Every aspect of our lives has been affected to some degree." | |
Bishop Bell School has faced controversy over people linked to it in the past. | Bishop Bell School has faced controversy over people linked to it in the past. |
Canon Gordon Rideout, 74, an ex-chairman of governors, was jailed for 10 years in May for abusing more than a dozen vulnerable girls and boys at a now closed Barnardo's home in Crawley, West Sussex, over a four-year period. | Canon Gordon Rideout, 74, an ex-chairman of governors, was jailed for 10 years in May for abusing more than a dozen vulnerable girls and boys at a now closed Barnardo's home in Crawley, West Sussex, over a four-year period. |
The former Anglican priest also indecently assaulted two girls at an Army site in Middle Wallop, Hampshire. | The former Anglican priest also indecently assaulted two girls at an Army site in Middle Wallop, Hampshire. |
In 2009, supply teacher Robert Healy, then aged 27, was jailed for seven years at Lewes Crown Court after grooming two Bishop Bell pupils on the social networking site Bebo. | In 2009, supply teacher Robert Healy, then aged 27, was jailed for seven years at Lewes Crown Court after grooming two Bishop Bell pupils on the social networking site Bebo. |
He had sex three or four times with one teenage victim and then started a second relationship with a slightly older girl. | He had sex three or four times with one teenage victim and then started a second relationship with a slightly older girl. |
A safeguarding review published in April did not find evidence of "any significant or systemic failings in safeguarding" at Bishop Bell School. | A safeguarding review published in April did not find evidence of "any significant or systemic failings in safeguarding" at Bishop Bell School. |