Dad: I'll walk her down the aisle
Playing guitar ... maths teacher Jeremy Forrest
THE girl abducted by teacher Jeremy Forrest has vowed to marry him when he is freed.
Her dad said she would wait for Forrest, below, to be released from his 5½-year jail sentence. He added: “I’d be proud to walk her down the aisle.”
And it emerged his daughter is planning to pay him a jail visit.
The teenager is believed to have already started making preparations to go and see Forrest, who was sentenced last week.
She broke her silence in yesterday’s Sun to say she would always love Forrest and was determined to keep their relationship going.
Prison ... maths teacher Jeremy Forrest
Her father backed her intention to visit Forrest behind bars — and even declared that HE wanted to as well.
The biological dad said he would like to shake the teacher’s hand and thank him for protecting her.
He claimed it would be “a dream” for his daughter if she and Forrest ended up getting married when he is freed — and offered to walk his daughter down the aisle if she wanted him to.
The teenager was 15 when maths teacher Forrest — twice her age — began a sexual relationship with her and took her to France.
She has since turned 16 and insisted she is old enough to plan a future with the man she loves.
She is currently being cared for by her stepfather after her relationship with her mum broke down.
But the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, confided to a family source: “My feelings towards Jeremy are still the same.
“I am fully capable of making my own decisions.”
Her dad spoke out after Forrest was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex, for child abduction and sexual offences.
Striking a pose ... maths teacher Jeremy Forrest
He said: “My daughter had a very unsettled family life when she was growing up.
“It would be a dream for her to settle down and marry the man she loves. She would want to do it all properly.
“I’d be proud to walk my daughter down the aisle with the man she loves.
“I honestly believe he loves my daughter and she’s besotted with him. She has made it clear she wants a future with him.
“Hopefully with good behaviour he may be freed on parole after a few years.
“If they have a future together that’s fine by me and they would have my blessing. I should hate him for what he’s done but I don’t — in fact, I’d like to meet him.
“I’d like to visit him in prison, shake his hand and say, ‘Thanks for looking after my daughter’. I would be nice to him.”
The girl and Forrest got together following a trip to Los Angeles in February 2012 with the Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne.
They started exchanging flirty messages and shared a first kiss in his classroom before lessons.
Posing ... maths teacher Jeremy Forrest
As their relationship progressed Forrest even bedded the girl at the home he shared with his wife Emily. But in September police were alerted and the pair fled to France, staying on the run for eight days before being found.
The girl’s father, a 41-year-old lorry driver, refused to condemn Forrest, saying: “People get suspended sentences for worse crimes.
“He never hurt or harmed my daughter and he didn’t take her away against her will.
“Yes, they had a physical relationship but she was sensible and mature enough to agree to that.
“They formed a friendship, which turned into a loving relationship, at a time both were suffering from family issues and insecurities.
“Some family members believe it is a good thing he was jailed, and they will be kept apart, but others feel it was too harsh. She went off on her own free will with him. She has to take some of the blame.
“Yes, he was foolish — but he’s a bloke in love and wasn’t thinking straight.”
On the run ... maths teacher Jeremy Forrest with pupil
The dad said the only thing Forrest had done wrong was not waiting until the girl had reached the age of consent.
He said: “I had no reason to think she would come to any physical harm when they disappeared.
“It seemed clear he loved her and would look after her. She had made up her mind to go away and he went with her to protect her.
“I’d never known her to have a boyfriend before and the school never told us about any relationship with her teacher. She never mentioned him. I did hope that he wouldn’t go to jail because he doesn’t deserve that.
“If I were to see him I’d just say, ‘What were you thinking of? You’re her teacher and she’s under-age. You should have waited until she was 16’.
“But there are worse crimes than falling in love with a young girl, being unhappy at home and wanting to escape.
“He obviously wasn’t happily married and I do feel sorry for his wife. But if he had waited till my daughter was old enough and had left school, there wouldn’t have been all this trouble.”
Shock ... The Sun yesterday
The dad, who last spoke to his daughter’s family two weeks ago, added: “I know she is living with her stepdad now. I’ve met him — I think he’s a great bloke.”
The girl has barely left the house since Forrest’s trial ended and it is understood she has has not seen any of her usual pals.
She has been staying with protective family members, who have been out to collect food and drink for her and carefully shielded her from reaction to the case.
The girl has also taken taken up the guitar — just like Forrest, who earned money as a busker while they were on the run.
A family source said: “She knows some people think she’s too young to decide this but she knows her own mind.
“This is a real relationship and not something she’s just going to grow out of. She has made her feelings for Forrest clear and her family want to support her.
“Everyone around her is now very protective of her — they all have her best interests at heart.
“She has received a lot of attention from the case and just wants to get on with her life.
“She will have a break to think about things and gather her thoughts — she is relaxing after a crazy few months.
“She is not interested in making any money from the story.
“In the meantime everyone is just hoping things will die down and they are all looking forward to spending some normal family time.”
He wants to wed her
Sister ... Carrie Hanspaul
SHAMED Jeremy Forrest told his parents: “I love her and we want to get married.”
Forrest’s sister Carrie Hanspaul, 33, said he revealed his plans to wed his schoolgirl lover during a prison visit.
And Carrie said she would welcome the 16-year-old into their family.
She recalled the moment a jury found her brother guilty last week. She said: “Jeremy mouthed to me ‘look after her, comfort her’, because she was really upset.
“So I just turned around and told her it was OK and put an arm round her. It was hard that she was so upset and that was upsetting him, so I suppose I instantly felt protective. I didn’t want to see her crying.”
Carrie of Orpington, Kent, said: “We are concentrating on getting him through this. He told dad that we didn’t need to worry about him, that he was happier now than he’d felt for a couple of years and could see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Letter of love from girl to his parents
By KATIE EARLAM
THE teenager abducted by Jeremy Forrest wrote a letter to his parents. It says:
“Dear Julie and Jim, I’m fully aware that I should not be getting in contact with you, but I couldn’t stop myself — there are a few things I want to say and clarify.
"I think you should know that my feelings toward Jeremy have been made very clear to my mum, and as much as she tries, she cannot change this.
"There’s been a bit of controversy online, with me being portrayed in the wrong light, and I hope you know what’s true and not true.
"I was not in control of what other people were saying. I have had to take it and watch my reputation being tarnished.
"I’m writing to apologise for any upset I have caused.
"On a more serious note I want to say thank you for showing your support and genuine concern in what you did for both of us in the TV appeal.
"It was heart-breaking to see you so upset. I understand that you were both extremely worried, but I’m sure you know also that I was not in any danger, which I have stressed countless amounts of times to various people.
"If anything I actually felt a lot safer with Jeremy in France than I have felt in my own home, school or any other familiar environments.
"I can’t emphasise enough how everything I feel towards Jeremy is — more than anything — serious ... he is wonderful.
"I understand that when Jeremy comes home there will be things to sort out and the main concern will be making sure that Jeremy is able to cope and adjust to living in the outside world again.
"Obviously I now and will continue in the future to stand by him. I do believe that some things are worth fighting for.
"For now, though, I’m going to concentrate on working hard to get the future both me and Jeremy want and I’m preparing for college.
"Jeremy will be pleased to know I have been accepted on an A-level maths course — maybe he would find it comical as maths was my worst subject at school. Thank you for taking the time to read this — I hope it was not too intrusive.
"I don’t expect a reply.
"Take care x x ”
He's gone for a song
JEREMY Forrest’s mum Julie has revealed her son is keeping himself busy in prison — by writing love songs on his guitar.
She said she has seen him several times since he has been in custody.
Julie said: “He’s keeping well. He is reading a lot, watching loads of TV and playing his guitar and writing songs.”
Forrest has also launched a scheme within Lewes Prison to teach lags how to read.
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