‘Paedophile’ teacher guilty of child abduction
A jury took less than two hours to convict Forrest following an eight-day trial at Lewes Crown Court.
The 30-year-old defendant, who remained stony-faced, turned to the girl and said: “I love you,” as the verdict was about to be announced.
The girl sobbed and said: “I am sorry,” as he was led back to the cells.
The trial heard how the pupil had just turned 15 when Forrest started having sex with her, having groomed the vulnerable teenager after she developed a crush on him at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Fearing they were about to be discovered, Forrest, of Chislehurst Rd, Petts Wood, Kent, booked them on a cross-Channel ferry from Dover to Calais on Sep 20 last year before spending seven days on the run in France.
The trial heard that Forrest would pick the girl up in her school uniform and would have sex with her in his car, in hotels, and at his marital home.
The girl told a friend that they had sex up to eight times a night.
The defendant also sent the girl “indecent images” of himself showing his naked torso with his hands down his underpants.
She responded with pictures of her naked breasts.
The police and the school’s failure to prevent Forrest running off with the girl has come under heavy criticism over their handling of the case.
Police were not alerted until seven months after first concerns were raised. When they were notified they held a meeting, rather than question or arrest Forrest immediately.
Teachers were first made aware of concerns about their relationship after a school trip to Los Angeles in Feb 2012. Several pupils saw them holding hands during the return flight.
Forrest failed to heed words of advice from senior staff members and went on to continue his relationship with the girl.
Police were finally alerted on Sept 14, and four days later a joint strategy meeting was held involving them, the school, and education services.
The girl’s home was visited by a police officer and a social worker on Sept 19 who seized her mobile phone looking for indecent images of Forrest.
The next day the defendant took flight to France, taking the girl with him.
Sentencing will take place today.
