teacher who has run off to France with his 15 year old pupil - thread 2

[shesariver]

Original thread has reached 1000 messages and cant see another one so hope IANBU to start this, stuck at work and wondering what the press conference has said?

The parents did know, MammaTJ. They all knew. Teachers, parents, local authority, everyone. I guess that's why they did a runner.

Until they turn up or phone there isn't anymore that can be said surely.

I feel so badly for her parents, they must be in a terrible state.

This man is known to his neighbours for the violent rows he had with his wife and is immature and reckless enough to throw his whole life away to run off with a teenager without any regard for the effect on either family. His own father is worried about him 'flipping out', he is obviously a volatile personality and god knows what he is capable of once they run out of money or anything goes wrong in the relationship. I can't imagine someone like that taking to kindly to a young girl deciding to return home after what he has given up for her.

I'm quite shocked by the amount of people who support this adult man's predatory behaviour and think that this 'couple' should be left alone. They need to be found for this girls safety, for her family's well being and to make an example to other arsehole adult males who are considering preying on and abducting other peoples children. And yes, it is abduction when it's a child, even if that child has been convinced to go willingly, that's not a choice they are old enough to make for themselves.

It's not normal for any adult man to have interest in a 15 year old girl. I have four younger brothers in their early twenties and I couldn't imagine them or their friends having a 15 year old girlfriend, let alone running away with one! A fifteen year old would be too immature for them, even if they physically look older, mentally they wouldn't be on the same level.

I do remember all the older men who seemed obsessed with young teens when I was that age, they were all weird creeps that nobody in their right mind would want anywhere near their kids. This man is one of them. His wife had a lucky escape, hopefully this girl will be so lucky. Alone in a strange country with an emotionally immature, aggressive, volatile, impulsive predator, her chances aren't that great to be honest. I think the police are trying to get as much attention for this case as possible because they fear what he is capable of.

I agree with bobble its not normal for a 30 year old man to want a relationship with a 15 year old,

she does need to be found

'the one place we presume they are safe is at school '

It's one of the few places (so few I can't think of anywhere else it applies) that they have to be there by law!

If you don't have any choice in sending your child somewhere, I think the least 'they' can do is come down like a ton of bricks on those people taking advantage of children for their own sexual gratification.

It's not good enough to try and sweep it under the carpet.

The amount of teacher/student stories on the other thread are very concerning, we're not in the 70's any more where these things can be brushed off as domestic matters.

There has been a thread "In The News" since about the same time the first AIBU thread was started. Posters seemed to prefer talking about this subject here, though.

Am I right in thinking the BBC will be covering this case on tonight's Crimewatch (starts in about 30 mins)?

BTW: I don't remember a single posted condoning the teacher's behaviour on the earlier thread.

There were however many posters who pointed out that we simply do not know whether she was willingly seduced, criminally groomed, or the enthusiastic instigator - and it actually does not matter, as he is the one who bears total responsibility for this.

I'm sure I heard it was to be featured on Crimewatch tonight. It's on at 9. What puzzles me is the backtracking. First France said they couldn't arrest him because it wasn't a crime in France and now the European arrest warrant issued. So presumably they can now arrest him.

European arrest warrant? Very very bad move imo.

Pressure on him/them has been upped a few degrees. Authorities have to be seen to be doing something but the 'softly softly' appeals are far more likely to result in a peaceful conclusion, not getting out the big legal boots. Cornered rats etc leads to even worse decisions being made by him/them.

I can't believe some people supporting it to. End of the day, would any of you lot shag a 15 year old or even have a relationship with one? No. And it's quite horrid some people saying "let them be" especially that horrible Anne Diamond! Christ.

I remember when I was a 15 year old (not that long ago) but i remember having a crush on a teacher and being consumed by it. I understand how she must be feeling, on top of the world, but i hope she comes back safe and in a few years realises what has actually happened.

anyone know why he is being referred to as Mr Forrest? Is it to emphasise his age/position because the alternative being that it's a respectful address.

I agree that the European arrest warrant wasn't a good move. If I'm correct, it only covers EU countries. I think it will force them into moving out of the EU - perhaps towards the Balkans somewhere.

Surely if he is liable to harm her, then the arrest warrant would make that more likely, not less.

I am hoping that its the fact that he was her teacher thats its in the news.

My little sister ran off with a 34 year old just before she was 16. The police just filed a missing person report and that was it.

what worrys me is the media covarage.

I worry about the arrest warrant too, but I, also, feel that in a way the police are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I am sure they feel like they have to do something, and I certainly think they should be doing something, should have done something last week, and along with other authorities have let Megan and her parents down, and they had to do something to get the French police on board to help find the couple. However, I wonder if the French police were a bit more proactive in looking for them, wether the warrant would have been issued.

I do hope it doesn't force them underground, or further into Europe away from the EU, or even further afield.

I still can not believe that people don't grasp why this is receiving such a high amount of press. We entrust teacher's with our children's lives, we do not, for one second, imagine that they could be being groomed by them, and having an illicit relationship with them.

The school have messed up big time here, too. DH thinks I am being ridiculous because I said if I had a child there and they weren't in the midst of GCSE years, I would be looking elsewhere to send them.

Totally agree with Maryz and AgentZ.

The man has/had a responsibility for the children he taught. The fact he is a teacher makes this case so newsworthy, plus the dodgy history of the school, and the apparent lack of investigation into a situation that many people claim to have known about.

I can't understand why, if they are so in love, and she is so mature and responsible,that they couldn't just wait until she was 16 and old enough to say "you can't stop us."

Does anyone know when she turns 16? Could they be trying to hide out until then?

I am not saying what they are doing is right at all, but how could they possibly think they could just waltz off into Europe together and live happily ever after, while she is still legally a child?

I agree that there are worse cases of abuse going on, with younger children and older men, but we absolutely cannot start to relax our boundaries with regards to adults in positions of authority and trust over children. He should know better, and the school should have stepped in as soon as they became aware.

I don't think that suggesting the media hysteria is overkill is condoning or supporting his behavior. tbh the fact that they're abroad makes nationwide media coverage less valid - they're not here, the public aren't looking out for them here, it's not being covered where they actually are, so really, what is the point?

The coverage is foolish.
If i had been a drama-loving 15 year old living out my "us against the world"/ romeo and juliet fantasies nothing would have made me less likely to come home than a media shit storm.

No doubt the man is in the wrong (and deficient to boot) but unless she is in actual danger I think this story needs to wind down. And I don't understand why it is getting so much attention.

I find it odd that this case is getting so much coverage and teary press conferences simply because he was her teacher (it is clearly very wrong, but it has happened before with less broohaha).

one of the most interesting aspects i find in this is how a whole - nation has been mobilised to find this girl and rightly so - and yet ...

the police - the social services and goodness knows who else were all complicit in allowing the abuse of girls as young as 13 to take place in rochdale and goodness knows where else.

thats some how OK.