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Jeremy Forrest trial: Teacher jailed for abduction and child sex | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A teacher has been jailed for five and a half years for abducting and having sex with a 15-year-old pupil he ran off with to France. | A teacher has been jailed for five and a half years for abducting and having sex with a 15-year-old pupil he ran off with to France. |
Jeremy Forrest, 30, from Petts Wood, London, was convicted at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday of child abduction. | |
Forrest did not initially face sex offence charges for reasons linked to his extradition, but admitted them in court just before sentencing. | |
The maths teacher groomed the girl at his Eastbourne school, the court heard. | |
Forrest gave no evidence in his defence during the eight-day trial. | Forrest gave no evidence in his defence during the eight-day trial. |
Judge Michael Lawson QC told Forrest he had ignored the cardinal rule of teaching. | |
He also lied to colleagues claiming rumours about the relationship were the teenager's lies, said the judge. | |
"It was her first intimate relationship," said Judge Lawson. | |
He told Forrest he encouraged the girl's infatuation and that text messages showed he drove the sexual relationship forward. | |
In taking her to France, he subjected the girl's family to "appalling distress". | |
The judge said Forrest's behaviour had been motivated by self-interest. | |
Forrest was banned from working with children for life. | |
'Gifted teacher' | |
During the hearing, the court heard statements from the mother of the teenager saying she felt like "the worst mother in the world". | During the hearing, the court heard statements from the mother of the teenager saying she felt like "the worst mother in the world". |
She said: "Someone got my child and I never saw it coming or saw it while it was happening." | She said: "Someone got my child and I never saw it coming or saw it while it was happening." |
Defence lawyer Ronald Jaffa said only a jail term was appropriate for the serious offences and he did not seek to excuse what happened but place them in context. | Defence lawyer Ronald Jaffa said only a jail term was appropriate for the serious offences and he did not seek to excuse what happened but place them in context. |
The court heard Forrest, a gifted teacher who gave vibrant and interesting classes, had been in an unhappy marriage and had sought medical help for depression. | The court heard Forrest, a gifted teacher who gave vibrant and interesting classes, had been in an unhappy marriage and had sought medical help for depression. |
Mr Jaffa said Forrest's caring attitude led to the girl to ask him for help with a number of issues and he later realised she had a crush on him. | Mr Jaffa said Forrest's caring attitude led to the girl to ask him for help with a number of issues and he later realised she had a crush on him. |
"He unfortunately fell in love and crossed the line at a time when he was in a very low position and depressed," said Mr Jaffa. |