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Jailed teacher Jeremy Forrest faces collusion investigation | Jailed teacher Jeremy Forrest faces collusion investigation |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police are investigating whether teacher Jeremy Forrest indirectly contacted the schoolgirl he abducted to get her to change her story. | Police are investigating whether teacher Jeremy Forrest indirectly contacted the schoolgirl he abducted to get her to change her story. |
Forrest was jailed for five and a half years for abducting and having sex with the 15-year-old he took to France. | Forrest was jailed for five and a half years for abducting and having sex with the 15-year-old he took to France. |
The 30-year-old, from Petts Wood, London, was convicted at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday of child abduction. | The 30-year-old, from Petts Wood, London, was convicted at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday of child abduction. |
He pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual activity with a child shortly before he was sentenced. | He pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual activity with a child shortly before he was sentenced. |
Judge Michael Lawson QC questioned the evidence given by the girl in court as it varied from her original police interviews. | Judge Michael Lawson QC questioned the evidence given by the girl in court as it varied from her original police interviews. |
Her evidence fitted with Forrest's defence that he took her to France to prevent her from succumbing to suicidal tendencies. | Her evidence fitted with Forrest's defence that he took her to France to prevent her from succumbing to suicidal tendencies. |
The judge told Forrest: "You have contested the abduction charge, raising a spurious defence so that she had to give evidence, evidence very different in content from her original account and designed to support it. | The judge told Forrest: "You have contested the abduction charge, raising a spurious defence so that she had to give evidence, evidence very different in content from her original account and designed to support it. |
"She had clearly received assistance in relation to what she should say." | "She had clearly received assistance in relation to what she should say." |
'Unknown third party' | 'Unknown third party' |
At the end of the sentencing hearing, Judge Lawson asked prosecutor Richard Barton if there was evidence of collusion. | At the end of the sentencing hearing, Judge Lawson asked prosecutor Richard Barton if there was evidence of collusion. |
The judge said: "Is there material to suggest communication, indirect communication between the parties?" | The judge said: "Is there material to suggest communication, indirect communication between the parties?" |
Mr Barton replied: "There is material to suggest indirect communication between an unknown third party and police are aware of that." | Mr Barton replied: "There is material to suggest indirect communication between an unknown third party and police are aware of that." |
A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Before the judge made his comments in court today, the matter had been raised with Sussex Police and this is being looked into." | A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Before the judge made his comments in court today, the matter had been raised with Sussex Police and this is being looked into." |
She said the force would release more information when it became available. | She said the force would release more information when it became available. |
Forrest did not initially face sex offence charges for reasons linked to his extradition from France, but admitted them in court shortly before sentencing. | Forrest did not initially face sex offence charges for reasons linked to his extradition from France, but admitted them in court shortly before sentencing. |
The maths teacher groomed the girl at his Eastbourne school, befriending her when she was just 14, the court heard. | The maths teacher groomed the girl at his Eastbourne school, befriending her when she was just 14, the court heard. |
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 on the run in France before they were tracked down in Bordeaux. | |
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 |
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