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AIBU?

Jeremy Forrest verdict - aibu to be confused?

999 replies

noddyboulder · 20/06/2013 14:54

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?

OP posts:

Report

RikeBider · 20/06/2013 16:09

There also isn't an "abuse of trust" type law in France so I think they weren't able to charge him for the sex with a minor. Child abduction is I guess the only thing they could secure a conviction on.

Catlike · 20/06/2013 16:13

I believe that he could only be tried for the offences upon which he was extradited, so as the age of consent is 15 in France, they couldn't bring charges against him for sex with a minor.

Hmm no wonder they said that the relationship only became sexual after her 15th birthday

Catlike · 20/06/2013 16:14

more importantly the young girl gets immediate counselling and help over the next few months. This is not going to be easy for a child who is clearly already damaged, with her self harm and suicidal ideation. A tricky road ahead I think for her.

Yes and he is really not helping by maintaining his hold over her with that "I love you" shit. If he had any decency he'd let her move on with her life.

LIZS · 20/06/2013 16:16

There also isn't an "abuse of trust" type law in France so I think they weren't able to charge him for the sex with a minor He wouldn't have been classed as in a position of trust . He wasn't then her teacher on a school trip , for example . Horrible to perpetuate her romantic fantasies even now.

BeauNidle · 20/06/2013 16:18

interesting article here calling for the head to go as this is not the first time this has happened at that school

AmberSocks · 20/06/2013 16:18

Have to say people shouldnt really throw the word rape around too freely,by law its actually not rape unless the person is under 13,then it is unlawful sex with a minor.

Obviously not much better but still!

paperlantern · 20/06/2013 16:19

He doesn't have any decency, if he had he wouldn't have done it in the first place

AmberSocks · 20/06/2013 16:20

the thing is there are lots of people who i have met in real life where the girl was 15/16 and the man was older (like 20s/30s)and they are still together,to me its bad because of his position as a teacher,not really becase of the age thing.My own mum and dad were 15 and 25 when they met and started seeing each other.

Remotecontrolduck · 20/06/2013 16:25

It's the teacher thing that bothers me too, not necessarily a big age gap. Though as she was only 14 when it started that's grim too.

Ultimately, she was his pupil, he shouldn't have gone there. Even if he was having a really bad time.

RikeBider · 20/06/2013 16:27

I'm not sure that length of relationship is an indicator of whether it is healthy or there isn't an abuse of power.

paperlantern · 20/06/2013 16:28

ambersocks If that unfortunate position happens. You wait. If it's real it will still be there in 2 years +.

You do not persuade the child to have sex in cars and hotels rooms. You do not have an affair. You do not abandon your wife. You do not use your wife's passport to take a child away from their home. You do not persuade the child it is their fault

Cravey · 20/06/2013 16:30

I am also confused that people are confused. She was / is a child. Therefore he has broken the law. It doesn't matter that she was willing and able. He as the adult should know that it was illegal etc.

FeegleFion · 20/06/2013 16:30

As an addition to what Paper just said.

You do not victim blame.

FCEK · 20/06/2013 16:31

Her parents must be going through absolute hell. Especially as he's still manipulating her by saying he loves her as he is sentenced. I hope he is jailed for as long as possible to give her time to move on, get support and realise what a vile scumbag he really is.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 20/06/2013 16:32

I think the people that need to consent to taking a minor out of the country are the minor's parents. The fact the girl agreed to go is irrelevant to the commission of the crime. The parents clearly did not consent.

Catlike · 20/06/2013 16:43

He wouldn't have been classed as in a position of trust . He wasn't then her teacher on a school trip , for example

Oh god, it really does sound very calculated in that case :(
I remember in the trial coverage, it said he'd researched online how long he'd be in jail if he were convicted of having sex with a minor.

It does seem like he had a calculated plan rather than just tagged along with this headstrong, suicidal girl because he was worried about her. Horrid.

paperlantern · 20/06/2013 17:01

Yes what he did, the timing of what he did and the way he did it really is very calculated.

Coupled with the fact that this isn't the first teenage pupil he sent birthday cards and friendly text messages too. That too felt very calculated, I wonder if she wasn't the first one he targetted she was just the first one that took the bait.

paperlantern · 20/06/2013 17:02

female teenage pupil - no reports of him having sent Birthday cards to the boys

Talkinpeace · 20/06/2013 17:05

and note that he did not give evidence : implies it would not have helped his case.

She was a child. She could be 15 or 5 : she was a child.

soverylucky · 20/06/2013 17:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FeegleFion · 20/06/2013 17:56

Can I just respond to you, sovery

As a mother of a 14 year old DD, my trust in my daughter's male teachers and, specifically, her form tutor has not wavered.

As a reasonable parent, I know this to be the exception, rather than the rule and I applaud all teachers who have taken their posts honourably.

Catlike · 20/06/2013 17:57

Some people need to read this article. It explains, for those who don't get it, why pupil-teacher relationships are abusive regardless of any supposed consent from the young person involved.

Alisvolatpropiis · 20/06/2013 18:02

Surely you must know you're being unreasonable?

One can't just swan off abroad with minors who aren't your own children (sometimes not even if they are your own) regardless of how much they want to go. It's abduction because they lack to capacity to make that decision.

thebody · 20/06/2013 18:02

I can't understand how in earth anyone is confused.

He is a predatory paediphile who abducted a child. 15 is a child.

This isn't two teenagers but a man of 30 who was in a position if trust.

Dirty disgusting man.

hamilton75 · 20/06/2013 18:05

I'm amazed you can be confused.

She was a minor and as such not capable of consenting. He was her teacher and it is a gross breach of trust.

Anyone idiot can see why he's been found guilty.

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