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?

I was just responding to merry that says the laws are different so was interested in what the argument based on. If our laws were to change tomorrow just wondered if the abuse label would be attached.

Our laws don't say the age of consent is 13 because we as a country agree that 16 is the correct age of consent in general and 18 is the correct age of consent where one party is in a position of authority. 16 is not an arbitrary number pulled out of a hat.

More than that, any teacher who doesn't operate within the law and his/her profession's code of contact re: pupil/teacher relationships is, at the very least, a bit of a plonker and in the wrong job, at worst a criminal.

There are plenty of things that I don't agree with in other parts of the world - e.g. American gun laws. However, the only country where I have a democratic right to influence the law is this country, the UK.

I feel very sorry for his wife too. He treated her with appalling callousness, not just by cheating on her but by vanishing from her life with no explanation. Stealing her passport. Texting her to say he'd be in touch and then chucking his phone into the sea. Letting her find out that her marriage was over through news reports of his abduction of a teenager.

And his family and friends have had the actual gall to blame her for Forrest's actions. Sticking the knife in by implying that she was a nightmare of a person who'd made him miserable for years and that he'd never wanted to marry her in the first place. Saying that if he hadnt been so unhappy with her, he'd never have groomed and abducted a child in his care.

Poor, poor woman.

Do we agree? No body has asked me my opinion.

I know Catlike. There seems to be altogether too much focus in certain quarters about how none of this was his fault because you know, these terrible females..the suicidal teen temptress and the unstable wife?

Flip it's always easier to blame a female, be it the mother or the girl. I'm just so disappointed that so many women feed into this bullshit.

Just a reminder women have their own minds too and not all controlled by men.

imnotmymum I'm glad that you were not traumatised by your own experience of a teenage relationship with an older man. Its very hard for me to believe that this isnt your main motive for defending Forrest/blaming the girl. Why would anyone do that?

"I am watching the developments regarding the stories breaking and if their is evidence to suggest he done this before then I will be on it!!"

• hasnt there been enough evidence of this already? (other girls being groomed at this school and the previous one he taught at, warnings from officials at school etc)

Yes women have their own minds - I couldn't agree more!

She, however, was not an adult woman - she was a 14 year old girl over whom he had a duty of care... Can you honestly not see the difference?

I hear you Bobyan. Me too.

I have never blamed the girl. Ever. Do not put words in my mouth.

Me too Bobyan it's fucking depressing..

Looking at my own DDs they very much know their minds I guess it is how I bought them up. Girl power I guess

My almost 14 yr old thinks he knows his own mind, he is very sensible and grown up actually but he is still a child and if one of his teachers abused their position over him I would have a fit and not hesitate to call the police!

Not happy no of course not. And we have a close relationship so they would talk to me and I would say it was inappropriate. However I could not cast all the blame on him at all. Some girls as I say are determined and he was truly irresponsible but cannot just portion blame to one party. Sorry to say it and you can all shout but eh the laws says it is a free country and that is my view.

Or his car?
Or his marital home?

Sorry got to bail need to get girls from stables. Have fun!

"Some girls as I say are determined and he was truly irresponsible but cannot just portion blame to one party"

sounds a lot like you are blaming her to me. Can you clear this up? Was SHE responsible or was HE?

Er yes we can attach all the blame to one person. To the adult in the situation who should have bloody well known better. Even if she threw herself on him naked and begging he should have done the right thing and said no. Ffs.

What is it with victim blaming bullshit today.

"Some girls as I say are determined and he was truly irresponsible but cannot just portion blame to one party"

Er..you do realise that you've just completely contradicted yourself there?