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?

If they really didn't want tobe caught haircuts and a couple of packets of hair dye would have helped alot. She had quite distinctive hair. A blonde pixi cut and him having a crew cut and totally different dress styles would have thrown people off the scent a bit, although speaking English was always going to be a problem in France, and they probably would have been noticed less if he'd had false ID and come to Glasgow (with the hair cuts).

Really, I think he has had a breakdown and all this was the run up, I think in his own mind he does actually 'love' her, but it isn't love......he doesn't come across as being all that sneaky, in fact I was a lot craftier as a 13 yr old.....

As I said on another thread tho i've seen similar behaviour in a parent in law ( towards me ) who was sectioned shortly after a came to a head.

I think it's pretty clear from his actions that sense is not something Mr Forrest possesses a lot (if any) of. He does seem to be very immature - not that it's any mitigation whatsoever.

And now he's apparently blethering on about coming back to Britain so he's near to the girl.......nah, I don't think he's sane.

It appears they were discovered because he went to a British owned bar to apply for work and the Bar Manager recognised him from news reports.

He may as well have gone in waving a neon sign saying 'Hey,over here!'

Lets not forget the CVs with his photo handily printed on the front.......I think he's more mad than bad tbh

If you're on the run I thought changing your appearance was standard procedure. If I ran away a pair of hair scissors, some dye, a dark foundation and some different spectacle frames would be top of the list.

I wonder what will happen to him. I don't think there is a chance he will go to prison. I think he is in the middle of a breakdown. He doesn't sound a bad person. Just incredibly immature and irresponsible. And totally lacking common sense. I am not meaning to excuse his shocking behaviour though I realise it might appear that I am.

'I wonder what will happen to him. I don't think there is a chance he will go to prison.'

oh, trust me, he will go to prison. Even if Megan says all the right things (have a feeling she will), there is the evidence in the phone, the fraud, the abduction.

'If you're on the run I thought changing your appearance was standard procedure.'

there was a story in the papers, some (teacher-student) couple stayed below the radar for 414 days like this, and were only found when they handed themselves in.

a breakdown ? I don't think so. This man does not have mental health problems, and I am sure the people who do would be pretty pissed-off at that "explanation" for his behaviour

Tbh I hope they throw the book at him. He may well have mental health problems but that's no mitigation for what he did.

His (at best) deeply selfish, immature and thoughtless actions have damaged so many peoples lives.

His (reputed) comments also show that he has no awareness or thought for anyone except himself, even Megan, who he professes to love. It's all about him and how he feels. Very telling.

Jesus, there seems to be a wave of sympathy for him??? Wot Maryz said I think.

I am more than able to think he may have some mental health issues to have behaved in what appears to be a totally out of character way...but that's where it ends tbh. Most people with mental health problems (even those in the throes of a breakdown) retain free will. HE made the decisions he did and nobody else did it for him. Obviously one can argue how much his mental health impacted upon his decision making hence there will be a trial unless he does the decent thing and pleads guilty.

All his mental health issues (if he has any) will do is perhaps provide a tiny bit of mitigation.

Poor Megan, her poor family and HIS poor wife and parents who have all been through Hell due to his actions.

I agree Maryz.

I've heard far too many people implying that a 15 year old is mature enough to make this kind of decision. Adult running away with a child? Predator.

He's a deluded knob who probably thinks they can continue their relationship when he comes back to Britain.

'Teacher/pupil relationships (regardless of the age of the pupil) are always wrong.'

for adults, I disagree with this. There are so many single and unhappy people out there that if you do get a chance of happiness you should grasp it with both hands.

perhaps I think like this because I am originally from the mainland - over there it's far more acceptable to put love in front of logic, as opinions in France show www.theweek.co.uk/people-news/49310/megan-stammers-love-story-elicits-sympathy-france

There are a few things here. It is infatuation not love for a start. Some men have a thing for young girls. He is one. Also the French will always have a go at uptight Brits.
I pity the mother. The wife is better off without him because let's face it once they are over 17 he probably won't give a shit. The girl well next week she will be into some guy in a boy band and her attention seeking behaviour will be centred around something or someone else.

If it's just the case of moving someone to a different group or class that's fine, it's when people start losing jobs because of it that I start having a problem with it.

Regarding 'what if it happened to my kids', sure, no parent wants this, but I suspect those on the continent would be on average less furious.

I agree with Mary - and quite frankly I am stunned that there is any other viewpoint.

I think he's an immature fantasist with narcissistic tendencies. I know the term "narc" gets bandied about here a lot, but he certainly does seem to have a pronounced preoccupation with fantasies of success, ideal love, personal fame, excessive expectations of personal entitlement, exploitation of interpersonal relationships - it all points to what is usually referred to as "functional narcissism".

The whole fantasy about being a rock musician which never came to anything, the fantasy of a "love affair" with an impressionable 15 year old, the fantasy of running away to France (without even being able to speak French, I ask you), the fantasy CV - rock musician, journalist.

He's an absolutely pathetic creature, with no apparent idea of the damage he has done.

It's very sad - for the families, for his wife, and above all for that young woman. He has essentially hijacked her life to satisfy his own selfish fantasies. I wonder if the damage can ever be repaired - certainly she will never be able to shake off her notoriety.

I expect now that the families are no longer worried out of their minds about their personal safety, they would all like to beat the living daylights out of him.

I have read several comment type pieces today in D. Mail (sorry, had long work trip and needed someting to 'read' while having a coffee) and the Torygraph.

There seemed to be a real swing towards "sexually mature teenage females will give the come on to older men", and in the case of the Torygraph, allegedly backed up with historical 'fact' about marriage during the early teens in the olden days.

Forrest's french lawyers also seem to have employed translators who go with the tendency for French language to be much more 'poetic' or 'romantic' than English.

Jimmy Saville anyone?
Horrible horrible stuff.