Jeremy Forrest will not give evidence in trial

Jeremy Forrest arrives at Lewes Crown Court in Lewes, East Sussex. Picture: PA

• Jeremy Forrest will not give evidence in his defence

• Teacher, who began relationship with 15-year-old pupil, accused of child abduction

The trial of Jeremy Forrest has heard the pupil was aged 15 when she started a sexual relationship with the 30-year-old at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Fearing they were about to be exposed, Forrest booked them on a cross-Channel ferry on 20 September last year before spending seven days on the run.

Ronald Jaffa, defending, told Lewes Crown Court that Forrest would not be giving evidence.

Mr Jaffa read a series of character references for Forrest as the defence case began.

He was described as a “talented and inspirational” teacher who “cared for others” and who has spent his time in prison teaching other inmates.

His sister, Carrie Hanspaul, mother of three daughters aged six, five and four, said she believed his caring nature had got him into trouble.

Mrs Hanspaul said: “He never has a bad word to say about anyone and always strives to do whatever he can to help other people and care for them. I believe this has contributed to his recent actions.”

Forrest’s uncle, John Forrest, a solicitor, said: “I believe that Jeremy is a gentle and responsible person who does not pose a threat to another person.

“He is deeply upset by the position in which he finds himself and is embarrassed and remorseful about the upset which he has caused to his friends and his family.”

Friend Dale Ives-Routleff, a tax analyst who was best man at the defendant’s wedding, said Forrest’s demeanour had changed in the past four years and he had become withdrawn.

Benedict Beaumont, a former ICT teacher at Bishop Bell School, described Forrest as “one of the most gifted teachers that I have ever met”.

Summing up the prosecution case, Richard Barton said Forrest could be considered as a “paedophile” who had “groomed” the schoolgirl.

He told the jury: “You do not have to decide whether he was a paedophile; you may consider, in the context of what he did, that is not an inappropriate label for him. It is about his desires to have that young sexual flesh, to satisfy his own carnal lusts.

“It is interesting to note the woman he chose to marry is a very young-looking, petite woman with her own vulnerabilities.

“What is that Jeremy Forrest finds attractive about young-looking, vulnerable women?

“There is a word for it. It’s called grooming – being caring, being kind, being close, gaining confidence, gaining the trust of that person and then you can do what you want to do with them.

“I invite you to find him guilty as charged.”

Forrest, of Petts Wood, south east London, denies an offence of child abduction.

Judge Michael Lawson QC adjourned the case until today when he will sum up before sending the jury out to consider its verdict.