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?

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

Why is this in any way confusing?

1. He was a teacher, therefore in a position of trust
   
2. She was 14 when the relationship started, ie a child
   
3. They had sex when she was 15, so still under the age of consent in this country.
   
4. It's not unusual for people who have been groomed in this way to try and protect their abuser, sadly.
   
   FFS, you do not take advantage of your position.

[LilacPeony]

There is a horrible attitude in this country that girls are fair game if they come on to you regardless of their age or emotional state.

I agree with this.

[corlan]

I've worked with secondary age children for 10 years.

I have yet to meet a 15 year old that a half intelligent adult couldn't manipulate.

[lougle]

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

The laws on 'Position of Trust' only allow for a charge when the pupil is aged 16 or 17 link because that is when a child is over the age of consent, but because of the nature of the relationship, the power balance is considered to be tipped too far in the direction of the person in a position of trust.

[thebody]

He couldn't help himself and it was the child doing the running. He was helpless!!!!

Hope he gets what he deserves in prison.

[bassingtonffrench]

an ex-boyfriend of mine's mum and dad were once pupil and teacher. They married when she left school. he was ten years older than her. he stayed at the school, she had two kids, still married as far as I know.

it does happen

[hackmum]

Innacorner: "The only thing I'm confused about is why he wasn't also charged with sex with a minor."

Me too. If they had charged him with that he would have had to plead guilty, and they could have saved the cost of a trial. Or they could have charged him with both, I suppose, but odd just to charge him with abduction.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Often happens bossing

A friend of mines parents were pupil and teacher,however nothing happened until she left though "I always thought he was a bit of a tosser when I was actually there to be honest"

A teacher at the school I went to had a custodial sentence after a long running affair with a pupil. No proof of it before she was 16 though it was well known amongst the pupils are least that it had started in some capacity when she was 14. She was a few years older than me,it was one of her friends who eventually told. They are now married with children.

[AnyFucker]

Have missed the news today

Has there been a verdict/sentencing ?

[Greythorne]

Guilty
Sentencing later

[RikeBider]

Again though, just because a relationship turns out to be lengthy or involves having children, it doesn't "prove" that it isn't abusive/manipulative or there isn't a power imbalance.

[FeegleFion]

Bassington - it really shouldn't fucking happen! That's the point!

[AnyFucker]

Thanks grey...are we starting a sweep on how pathetic the sentence is ?

[thebody]

What middle aged man falls in love with a 15 year old girl.

Oh yes one unable to establish a normal relationship with a woman. One who needs worshipping.

Manipulative looser.

If he was a decent bloke he wouldn't even give a child like this a sexual thought.

[noddyboulder]

Thanks everyone - sorry, I have been busy with clubs and should know better than to start a thread and then bugger off!

I am not very wise to legal matters and was just confused as abduction sounds like bundling someone into a car... as I said, in no way am I suggesting that it doesn't matter as she somehow 'asked for it' - she didn't know what she was doing, and he should have known far, far better, especially as he knew her background and that she was vulnerable. What with all the other women he shagged while married, I think his impulse control system is absent... horrible man, anyway.

Some of the media reporting has been absolutely vile "8 times a night!!!" and all that. Poor girl.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Rike - I wasn't sharing my second anecdote in a "that makes it all ok" way.

I find it very creepy they've ended up married after he was at least grooming her from the age of 14. It transpired that this bloke was "advised" to leave the school he was at before mine because it was noted he was showing an unhealthy interest in his female pupils and if he didn't leave they would have to do something about it. So despite knowing there was an issue they merrily waved him off to the school I attended where he showed more than just an interest. Vile.

[flippinada]

I wouldn't be surprised if he got a risible sentence but maybe, just maybe, he won't.

A teacher (at the same school was sentenced to 7 years for grooming two pupils. From the BBC News Report:

"In 2009, supply teacher Robert Healy, then aged 27, was jailed for seven years at Lewes Crown Court after grooming two Bishop Bell pupils on the social networking site Bebo."

[thebody]

Exactly. Decent adults protect children. End of.

[Pagedown]

Fucksake. Why does "she is a minor and not able to give valid consent" even have to be explained to people?

[cakebaby]

USI NO L

[cakebaby]

Ffs I hate this phone.

USI No longer exists in current UK law.
Abduction has 2 strands, by person connected with child (parent/ carer/guardian etc) where the child is removed from the UK or, by person NOT connected with child where the abduction takes or detains a child in or out of UK. If the child is under 16 the law says they cannot consent even if that's what they want to do. He acted without reasonable authority or lawful excuse. If there is no consent then it would be kidnapping.

Statutory rape occurs in UK law when the victim is a child under 13 as the law says they cannot consent. He may have been able to be charged with sexual activity with a child by penetration but there could be a long list of reasons why this was not a prosecution strategy.

The offence he was convicted of carries a max sentence of 7 yrs.....