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Jeremy Forrest trial: Teacher jailed for abduction and child sex | Jeremy Forrest trial: Teacher jailed for abduction and child sex |
(about 1 hour 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. | 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, who gave no evidence during the trial, was banned from working with children for life and ordered to sign the sex offenders register. | Forrest, who gave no evidence during the trial, was banned from working with children for life and ordered to sign the sex offenders register. |
'Encouraged her infatuation' | 'Encouraged her infatuation' |
Sentencing, Judge Michael Lawson QC told Forrest he had ignored the cardinal rule of teaching. | Sentencing, 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. | 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. |
The judge told Forrest he encouraged the girl's infatuation and that text messages showed he drove the sexual relationship forward. | The judge 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". |
Sentencing Forrest, Judge Lawson said: Your behaviour over this period had been motivated by self interest and has hurt and damaged many people - her family, your family, staff and pupils at the school and respect for teachers everywhere. | Sentencing Forrest, Judge Lawson said: Your behaviour over this period had been motivated by self interest and has hurt and damaged many people - her family, your family, staff and pupils at the school and respect for teachers everywhere. |
"It has damaged you too, but that was something you were prepared to risk. | "It has damaged you too, but that was something you were prepared to risk. |
"You now have to pay that price." | "You now have to pay that price." |
'Gifted teacher' | 'Gifted teacher' |
The trial heard the pupil had just turned 15 when Forrest started a sexual relationship with her. | The trial heard the pupil had just turned 15 when Forrest started a sexual relationship with her. |
They had sex in his car, in hotels and at his marital home, the court heard. | They had 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 in France before they were spotted in Bordeaux. | They spent seven days in France before they were spotted in Bordeaux. |
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. | 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, had been in an unhappy marriage and had sought medical help for depression. | The court heard Forrest, a gifted teacher, 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. | 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. |
After the sentencing, Forrest's family said they hoped the case would lead to a full examination of what went wrong. | After the sentencing, Forrest's family said they hoped the case would lead to a full examination of what went wrong. |
'Very sorry' | |
His mother Julie, brother Tom and sister Carrie Hanspaul stood on the court steps while solicitor Henrietta Ronson read their statement. | 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 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. | "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. | "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." | "We sincerely hope that these are sensibly looked into and not simply swept under the carpet." |
Nigel Pilkington, head of the South East complex casework unit at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "These additional charges concerning sexual activity with a child were an important part of the prosecution case that the CPS was determined to bring before the courts. | Nigel Pilkington, head of the South East complex casework unit at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: "These additional charges concerning sexual activity with a child were an important part of the prosecution case that the CPS was determined to bring before the courts. |
"This has not been a straightforward legal process, as it has involved complex legal proceedings in both France and at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. | "This has not been a straightforward legal process, as it has involved complex legal proceedings in both France and at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. |
"We are grateful to the French legal authorities for their considerable assistance in this matter." | "We are grateful to the French legal authorities for their considerable assistance in this matter." |