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Jeremy Forrest trial: Teacher jailed for abduction and child sex | 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. | Jeremy Forrest, 30, from Petts Wood, London, was convicted at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday of child abduction. |
He did not initially face sex offence charges for reasons linked to his extradition from France, but admitted them in court just before sentencing. | |
The maths teacher groomed the girl at his Eastbourne school, the court heard. | 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. |
'Encouraged her infatuation' | |
Judge Michael Lawson QC told Forrest he had ignored the cardinal rule of teaching. | Judge Michael Lawson QC told Forrest he had ignored the cardinal rule of teaching. |
He also misled colleagues, claiming rumours about the relationship were the teenager's lies, said the judge. | |
"It was her first intimate relationship," said Judge Lawson. | "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. | 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". | 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 and banned him from working with children for life. | |
'Gifted teacher' | '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 he did not seek to excuse what his client had done but wanted to place his actions 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 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. | "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. |
'Sorry episode' | |
After the sentencing, Forrest's family said they hoped the case would lead to a full examination of what went wrong. | |
His mother Julie, brother Tom and sister Carrie Hanspaul stood on the court steps while solicitor Henrietta Ronson read their statement. | |
"This case has been very difficult from the start for everyone involved," she said. | |
"This is a sorry episode for all concerned and Jeremy is very sorry for his actions. | |
"Despite the verdict and today's sentence, there are many factors in this case which need to be examined and addressed, including the failure to properly act on early warnings. | |
"We sincerely hope that these are sensibly looked into and not simply swept under the carpet." |