Runaway British teacher agrees to be extradited
Source: Agencies |
October 3, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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A married British teacher who fled with a 15-year-old schoolgirl to France agreed yesterday to be extradited, as his lawyer said the arrested fugitive wanted his "full story" to emerge.
Asked if he was ready to be handed over to British judicial authorities for questioning, 30-year-old Jeremy Forrest told a court in Bordeaux: "Yes."
His pupil, Megan Stammers, was flown back to Britain on Saturday after the pair were found in Bordeaux.
"Now that Jeremy has agreed to be extradited back to the UK as soon as possible, we look forward to the story emerging, the full story emerging, in the coming months," his lawyer Philip Smith said.
"Naturally, Jeremy is most concerned about the impact of this episode on all those affected," Smith said.
"He will make no further comment whilst the judicial process takes place and he's cooperating with the authorities."
French prosecutors had earlier said they were favorable to an extradition following an arrest warrant issued by Britain on September 25.
The pair had boarded a cross-Channel ferry together on September 20. Security camera pictures were released of them holding hands and walking arm in arm aboard the ferry from Dover to the northern French port of Calais.
Their parents had appealed for them to get in touch but played down fears that the schoolgirl could be in any danger.
There was never any suggestion that Stammers was taken by Forrest against her will.
The pair were discovered strolling down Bordeaux's main shopping street after a member of the public recognized Forrest from media coverage of the runaways.
Under French law, a 15-year-old is not a minor in sexual terms, unlike in Britain, where the age of consent is 16.
Asked if he was ready to be handed over to British judicial authorities for questioning, 30-year-old Jeremy Forrest told a court in Bordeaux: "Yes."
His pupil, Megan Stammers, was flown back to Britain on Saturday after the pair were found in Bordeaux.
"Now that Jeremy has agreed to be extradited back to the UK as soon as possible, we look forward to the story emerging, the full story emerging, in the coming months," his lawyer Philip Smith said.
"Naturally, Jeremy is most concerned about the impact of this episode on all those affected," Smith said.
"He will make no further comment whilst the judicial process takes place and he's cooperating with the authorities."
French prosecutors had earlier said they were favorable to an extradition following an arrest warrant issued by Britain on September 25.
The pair had boarded a cross-Channel ferry together on September 20. Security camera pictures were released of them holding hands and walking arm in arm aboard the ferry from Dover to the northern French port of Calais.
Their parents had appealed for them to get in touch but played down fears that the schoolgirl could be in any danger.
There was never any suggestion that Stammers was taken by Forrest against her will.
The pair were discovered strolling down Bordeaux's main shopping street after a member of the public recognized Forrest from media coverage of the runaways.
Under French law, a 15-year-old is not a minor in sexual terms, unlike in Britain, where the age of consent is 16.
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