Jeremy Forrest verdict - aibu to be confused?

[noddyboulder]

Yep, I don't think even his own parents could deny he's a massive, hideous scumbag with no impulse control - but how can he have been found guilty of abduction when the girl he had an affair with said it was her idea to go to France and she went willingly?

Can somebody legal shed some light?

Just do not presume she will be a wreck.
She was already self-harming, she's now estranged from her mother, she's infamous -she'll be fine.

BTW I think that smug look that Jeremy was wearing on the way in/out of court was that predatory men generally believe that all men are like them.

He's probably kidding himself that men are looking at him in envy at the moment, because secretly they'd all like to have authority and control over 15 yr old girls in order to groom them for sex. That's how men like him justify their actions they're just doing what all men would like to do

Sadly, I think a hell of a lot of men do think like that. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he's getting loads of approval in prison as opposed to the hostility that abusers of younger children would experience.

He's probably quite happy with the turn of events. Family and friends sticking by him. Probably been promised a job when he gets out by one of them. Young victim still in thrall to him and he can possibly rely on his family to encourage her to continue the relationship. And she's estranged from her family now, which makes her less likely to be talked out of waiting for him. And lots of pats on the back and 'man points' in jail.

Wow, what a nasty comment. You really are a piece of work imnot.

She's not fine though, is she? She was troubled before she ran away with Forrest. It was this vulnerability that he took advantage of. It suits him that people talk of 'forbidden love' and 'Romeo & Juliet' as that adds a romantic gloss over his grooming of a troubled child.

Imnotmymum, I believe you said that in your relationship at 15 with a 28yr old he was not your teacher, or in a position of authority over you. This makes all the difference. The law is there for good reason. You cannot compare your relationship with Berts, or this girl, and you cannot project that because you were ok, all pupils who embark on relationships with their teachers "of their free will" will be ok too.

A loving family who she is now estranged from.

Even if this girl is fine and goes on to have a fulfilling life, and please God she does, it will only be after a long time spent in counselling and working with appropriate support services.

Had this predator not abused her, the intensive support to help her overcome and understand her situation wouldn't have been required.

Catlike - I hope not. But you may be right about the support for him in some circles. I think he is getting some support in the media and the wider world, but it's not unanimous. Plenty are saying his sentence is not long enough. He is, after all, a convicted sex offender now, and they don't have an easy time in jail. Might wipe that smug look off his face.

Imnotmymum, isn't 5pm a bit early for wine o'clock?? )

I'm beginning to agree with Maryz - perhaps you didn't cope with it as well as you'd like to think. I think you protest too much.

Not at all. I kept the house. Mary there is no need for swearing.
Anyway back to the op ...

"Wild horses might not have stopped her.

But he should have.

That's the point you appear to have missed."

^this, this and this.

I am amazed at the people who think it was OK for him to step over the teacher pupil boundary which is enshrined in law. He would have known the consequences, he should have stopped this from happening. Claiming that he was unable to is definitely an attempt to put blame onto the child. It's also very insulting to men to assume that they have no resistance to childish crushes.

And I agree Maryz I do not believe I have said that.

As an aside...Swearing freely is one of the perks of MN!

Imnotmymum I'm sorry but your comments do come across poorly.

For victims like myself and Berts, who are grown adults with happy lives now but who are shaken up by news stories such as this, it just seems sneery and almost self congratulatory. Well done, glad you're fine after having a relationship with an older man, but as I was groomed by a peadophile whilst I was still at school I can still sometimes get a bit tetchy about being told to pull myself together.

As is its influence to open the Echo Falls...

And I apologise if they came across poorly but in noway did I disrespect anyone. I have looked at my posts as I said. But if anyone was offended I truly apologise.

Your posts were utterly belittling and disrespectful of Bert, Imnotmymum. Shame on you.

I hope with all my heart that this girl will be ok - but if she is it will be no thanks at all to the actions of Jeremy Forrest.

Maryz I'm seldom called polite so thank you

Well shame is upon me then. They were not meant to be I was just highlighting hindsight is a wonderful thing and this girl with hindsight may feel like Bert who I reiterate have the up most respect.

You got the house ? Result !

Imnotmymum to be fair to you, your posts are not in the same league as some of the vile stuff up thread.

I must, however, challenge opinions like yours, in the hope that you will see how unacceptable it is, for anyone, to lay any of the blame at this victim's door. To say she had free choice and was a willing participant is wrong and that way lies the danger of rape apology.

I haven't taken anything you've said and twisted it. I haven't said that you are targeting any poster.

BUT I cannot and will not accept any opinion about this other than this man is a sexual offender. He groomed and abused a child and those are the facts.

I don't expect you to respond by saying your opinion has changed, but I would have respect for you if you were to at least reconsider.