Runaway Teacher Found Guilty

[SimonMac]

It would be simpler if the law was simply that a teacher couldn't have a relationship with a student at their school, totally regardless of age.

But then what would be the point of becoming a University Lecturer

[SueEllen]

But then what would be the point of becoming a University Lecturer

They can't do that because unversities have mature students.

[xoggoth]

Sexual Offences Act 2003 in England and Wales according to this

Excellent again SE. I love people who bother to check out the things I can't be *rsed to. Your next assignment is...

Although that law does not seem to have been used in this case. Abduction? See definitions here. Common English usage suggests force/deception/manipulation/exploitation, not applicable in this case. Whatever the law may say, adulthood is defined by biology and psychology. This girl was not abducted in any logical sense.

Prosecuting him for an illegal relationship between teacher and pupil would not only have been a more logical option but would have underlined an important principle and saved us all money by avoiding need to prove a much vaguer charge.

[SueEllen]

Excellent again SE. I love people who bother to check out the things I can't be *rsed to. Your next assignment is...

Although that law does not seem to have been used in this case. Abduction? See definitions here. Common English usage suggests force/deception/manipulation/exploitation, not applicable in this case. Whatever the law may say, adulthood is defined by biology and psychology. This girl was not abducted in any logical sense.

Prosecuting him for an illegal relationship between teacher and pupil would not only have been a more logical option but would have underlined an important principle and saved us all money by avoiding need to prove a much vaguer charge.

1. There was a European Arrest Warrant for him which was on the grounds "Child Abduction" as it's not illegal in France for a teacher to run away with a student. If the CPS then didn't go ahead and prosecute him for it I suspect that the rest of Europe would not co-operate again if the UK issued one in other cases.

2. The CPS tends to go for offences that are the easiest to get a conviction for from a judge and jury. If the jury had a large porportion of older people or thick people on it I suspect a few of them wouldn't think it's a crime as they claimed to be in love.

[NickFitz]

Excellent again SE. I love people who bother to check out the things I can't be *rsed to. Your next assignment is...

Although that law does not seem to have been used in this case. Abduction? See definitions here. Common English usage suggests force/deception/manipulation/exploitation, not applicable in this case. Whatever the law may say, adulthood is defined by biology and psychology. This girl was not abducted in any logical sense.

Prosecuting him for an illegal relationship between teacher and pupil would not only have been a more logical option but would have underlined an important principle and saved us all money by avoiding need to prove a much vaguer charge.

The abduction charge was brought because they could easily get a European Arrest Warrant for that, so that the French authorities could extradite him to the UK. It would have been more difficult if it involved an offence that wasn't a crime in France. (I don't know what the French law on pupil/teacher relations is, I'm just quoting the legal background as explained on Radio 4 earlier.)

That was also why they didn't charge him with the under-age sexual offences until today, and only then because he'd waived his right to object to the charges being brought and agreed to plead guilty: as he was extradited on an EAW, he couldn't be tried for anything that didn't feature in that warrant.

This aspect of the EAW regime is one of the reasons we know for a fact that Julian Assange is a worthless scumbag lacking the moral courage to accept responsibility for his actions in Sweden, rather than a noble crusader for freedom. But that's a different story, as it involves non-consensual sexual activity.

[xoggoth]

Stuff about previous grooming by this bloke in the DM which puts a different complexion on it. Not that I would know as I never read it obviously.

[d000hg]

They can't do that because unversities have mature students.

They could, regardless of age. In the same way it would be improper for a psychiatrist to date a patient.

[AtW]

They could, regardless of age. In the same way it would be improper for a psychiatrist to date a patient.

That would be mental...

[doodab]

That would be mental...

I dated a psychologist once. I think she thought I was mental.

[northernladuk]

Interesting story here. Teacher runs off with 16 year old step daughter, now married with kids and he was allowed to keep on teaching. If only Jeremy Forrest had waited a few months more he might still be teaching and in a happy relationship. What a difference a few months make hey...

Headteacher 'ran over school's electric organ with his car after suffering meltdown in front of pupils during assembly | Mail Online

Have to say though I am highly suspicious of grown men wearing cartoon ties. Surely that alone is a sign someone is, erm, a little left of normal.