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Syria: Rebels Risk Own Lives Over DIY Weapons

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 21 Juni 2013 | 20.49

By Sam Kiley, Middle East Correspondent, in northern Syria

High explosive powder is shaken into the nose cone of an improvised missile through a funnel fashioned from a mineral water bottle.

Then along comes a man with a long bolt. He shoves it down into the powder and starts whacking it with a steel-headed hammer.

One spark, a drift of cigarette ash, and the detonation of this arms factory would be heard and seen for many, many miles.

We agreed with our hosts, Syrian rebels with no connection to al Qaeda-linked groups, that we would not reveal the location of this installation. The reason was obvious.

For more than two years the rebels fighting Bashar al Assad had been begging the outside world for help.

They had seen how effective a no-fly zone had been in Libya.

Syria Some of the extraordinary weapons being produced

A generous interpretation of a United Nations Security Council Resolution which mandated the use of "all necessary means" to protect Libya's civilian population had meant that Nato and her allies were able to deploy aircraft effectively as the rebel air force.

Surely, given the scale of Mr Assad's assault on his own people, the Syrian fighters reasoned, they would get the same sort of support their Libyan brothers had enjoyed. They were wrong.

The West, led by the US, was heavily focused on getting out of, not into, conflicts in the Islamic world. Namely Iraq and Afghanistan.

And there was no chance that Russia would allow a UN resolution that sanctioned the use of air power against its ally in Damascus.

So no no-fly zone and no weapons shipments - aside from limited supplies from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The rebels were forced to improvise, or die. Weapons had to be made if they could not be given, or captured.

Syria This explosive device looked like a cartoon bomb

The factory we saw turned out some extraordinary weapons.

The most primitive was a "cannon" which ejected an explosive charge, made from a length of pipe stuffed with explosive which was detonated by a fuse that had to be lit with a match before being fired. It looked like a cartoon bomb.

A similar, smaller, contraption had been made from an old shotgun. The rebels make their explosive out of fertiliser and sugar.

Mortar barrels and rockets are turned on industrial lathes, using pipes bought from a builders' merchant.

The rocket detonators are hand turned. A worker dropped one last week, and paid for the mistake with his life.

"We have invested a lot of money and effort in trying to get better at this, some of us have been killed working here - one man died last week, and many have lost pieces of themselves," said Abu Yahya, the manager of the factory.

Syria The weapons-makers are self-taught engineers

The US has recently decided to send lethal aid to the rebels - not game-changing equipment such as anti-aircraft weapons or tank-killing missiles - just small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

Syrian rebels elsewhere have said today that they recently received unspecified new weapons and more were expected.

FSA spokesman Louay Muqdad said: "We've received quantities of new types of weapons, including some that we asked for and that we believe will change the course of the battle on the ground.

"We have begun distributing them on the front lines, they will be in the hands of professional officers and FSA fighters," he said.

The US is reluctant to send more powerful equipment because of fears that it could find its way into the hands of al Qaeda-affiliated groups which could then use anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down civilian aircraft.

Prime Minister David Cameron supports arming those rebels with no affiliations to al Qaeda - but whether he can sell the idea to Parliament remains in question.

Many British MPs do not believe that their national interests would be served by backing rebels who may turn against Europe.

But there remains another, more subtle, problem.

The arms factory we saw was a hive of innovation and improvisation. The self-taught engineers were making a remote-controlled rocket launcher out of plastic drainage pipes, the working parts of an adjustable TV satellite receiver and an old starter motor.

That level of artisanal arms manufacturing may, one day, pose a threat to the outside world from people who were abandoned by it.


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Baby Deaths: CQC Exec 'Wanted To Speak Out'

Care Quality Commission media manager Anna Jefferson says she wanted to speak out after being implicated in an alleged cover-up of the organisation's failure to investigate baby deaths in Cumbria.

The health watchdog has revealed its ex-chief executive Cynthia Bower, her former deputy Jill Finney and Ms Jefferson were present during a discussion about deleting an internal review which criticised CQC inspections of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, where a number of mothers and babies had died.

The three women deny that they tried to cover up the report and Ms Bower insists she "gave no instruction to delete" the report.

Since their names were revealed, Ms Bower has resigned from her current post as a non-executive trustee of the Skills for Health lobbying body, while Ms Finney has been sacked as chief commercial officer of internet domain company Nominet.

More than 30 families have taken action against Furness General - run by Morecambe Bay NHS Trust - in relation to deaths and injuries to mothers and babies since 2008.

It is claimed Ms Jefferson, who still works for the CQC, said during the key meeting, "Are you kidding me? This can never be in the public domain nor subject to FOI (a Freedom of Information request)."

CQC media manager Anna Jefferson Anna Jefferson denies suggesting the CQC review should be suppressed

But Ms Jefferson told Sky News she "felt sick" and wanted to waive her anonymity when she realised she was implicated in a review by City consultants Grant Thornton, which was published on Wednesday.

She said she does not remember any instruction to delete the review being given and denies suggesting it could never be made public.

She claimed she pushed for proper external scrutiny of the CQC's actions regarding Morecambe Bay "several times", the last time on July 17, 2012, during a meeting where the CQC's current chief executive David Behan was present.

She said: "The thought of what the families who have lost babies at this hospital have gone through is heartbreaking.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt The Health Secretary said those behind any "cover-up" could lose pensions

"I would never have conspired to cover up anything which could have led to a better understanding of what went wrong in the regulation of this hospital and I am absolutely devastated that I have been implicated in this way."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has suggested that current or former CQC staff found to have been involved in a cover-up could be stripped of their pensions.

He said the CQC must follow "due process" but he would back the regulator "absolutely to the hilt" if it chose to take action against individuals.

Asked what action should be taken against those responsible, Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "These are very, very serious allegations and they should have very, very serious consequences if they are proved.

Joshua Titcombe Joshua Titcombe's family raised concerns after he died at Furness Hospital

"I know the CQC are looking into disciplinary procedures and what can be done, what sanctions are available, whether you can have forfeiture of pensions, all those things.

"There has to be due process, but... it is totally appalling that this kind of thing should happen. It's exactly what shouldn't be happening in our NHS.

"It lets down the millions of doctors and nurses who do an amazing job day in, day out, and we have to root it out."

Downing Street said Prime Minister David Cameron agreed that all sanctions should be on the table.

Meanwhile, Mr Behan and current CQC chairman David Prior are to be summoned to appear before the Commons health select committee.

Its chairman, Tory former health secretary Stephen Dorrell, said he has asked for them to be given an "early opportunity" to give evidence.

Morecambe Bay NHS Trust was given a clean bill of health by the CQC in 2010, but an internal review was ordered by the hospital regulator in 2011 into how failings resulting in deaths had gone unnoticed.

Grant Thornton's investigation found that the report was not made public because it was decided it was too critical of the CQC.

The investigators concluded this "might well have constituted a deliberate cover-up" by the CQC employees who decided it should not be made public.


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Google Threatened With Criminal Proceedings

Internet giant Google has been threatened with criminal proceedings if it does not destroy personal data collected from wifi networks.

The internet giant has been handed an enforcement notice by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) after further personal data unlawfully collected by its Street View cars was discovered last year.

The watchdog has demanded that it destroy four discs containing information it took from unsecured wifi networks.

It discovered the extra information on four disks in July 2012 and told Google not to take action until it had carried out an investigation.

Google had previously pledged to destroy all data collected in this manner - but admitted last year that it had "accidentally" retained the additional discs.

The ICO carried out its investigation and on reaching its conclusion, on Friday morning issued its enforcement notice.

The ICO has warned Google that failure to comply with the legal order will be considered as contempt of court, which is a criminal offence.

A statement from the ICO said an investigation found that the collection of payload data by the company was the result of procedural failings and a serious lack of management oversight, including checks on the code behind the software.

But, it added, the investigation also found there was insufficient evidence to show that Google intended, on a corporate level, to collect personal data.

Stephen Eckersley, ICO Head of Enforcement, said: "Today's enforcement notice strengthens the action already taken by our office, placing a legal requirement on Google to delete the remaining payload data identified last year within the next 35 days and immediately inform the ICO if any further disks are found.

"Failure to abide by the notice will be considered as contempt of court, which is a criminal offence." 

"The early days of Google Street View should be seen as an example of what can go wrong if technology companies fail to understand how their products are using personal information.

"The punishment for this breach would have been far worse, if this payload data had not been contained."

The ICO's decision followed the reopening of its investigation into the Google Street View project in April last year.

The decision followed the publication of a report by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which raised concerns around the actions of the engineer who developed the software previously used by the cars, and his managers.

The ICO added that its investigation into whether Google's privacy policy complies with the Data Protection Act is on-going.

This investigation is part of coordinated action by data protection regulators across Europe, to assess whether Google's latest privacy policy clearly explains how individuals' personal information is being used across the company's products and services.

The ICO said it would shortly be writing to Google to confirm its preliminary findings.

Google says it has every intention of complying with the order to destroy the disks.

A Google spokesman said: "We work hard to get privacy right at Google. But in this case we didn't, which is why we quickly tightened up our systems to address the issue.

"The project leaders never wanted this data, and didn't use it or even look at it.

"We cooperated fully with the ICO throughout its investigation, and having received its order this morning we are proceeding with our plan to delete the data."


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Jeremy Forrest Jailed For Five And A Half Years

A teacher who fled to France with his pupil and spent a week on the run has been jailed after admitting five counts of sexual activity with a child.

Jeremy Forrest, who was convicted by a jury yesterday of abducting the schoolgirl, pleaded guilty to the additional charges and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

During his trial, the prosecution labelled him a "paedophile" and said he "groomed" the vulnerable teenager.

The 30-year-old insists he still loves the youngster, who broke down in tears and told him she was "sorry" as he was found guilty of her abduction.

She did not attend court for his sentencing but in a victim statement, her mother said her relationship with her daughter would "never be the same again".

Jeremy Forrest, the British teacher who ran away with a 15-year-old pupil, is escorted in a plane to Britain on October 10, 2012 after being extradited from France. Forrest is led onto a plane to be extradited from France last October

Passing sentence, the judge at Lewes Crown Court said Forrest "chose to ignore the cardinal rule of teaching" by starting a sexual relationship with the teenager shortly after her 15th birthday.

"Your behaviour in this period has been motivated by self-interest and has hurt and damaged many people - her family, your family, staff and pupils at the school and respect for teachers everywhere," Michael Lawson QC said.

"It has damaged you too but that was something you were prepared to risk. You now have to pay that price."

Rumours of Forrest's relationship with the teenager surfaced in February last year, when the pair were spotted holding hands during a flight on a school trip to Los Angeles.

Jeremy Forrest, with head covered, is escorted to a police car after arriving at Gatwick airport by plane. Forrest arrived back in the UK with his head covered

The girl, now 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted having a crush on Forrest, who taught at Bishop Bell Church of England School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

They exchanged flirty text messages, tweets and photographs but denied any wrongdoing when pressed by the school.

Fearing their relationship was about to be exposed when police were alerted last September, Forrest abducted the youngster and took her on a cross-Channel ferry to France, where they spent a week on the run.

The couple dyed their hair, assumed false names and dropped a mobile phone into the English Channel in an effort to avoid being caught, but were tracked down after a Europe-wide search.

Jeremy Forrest's family outside Lewes Crown Court The family of Jeremy Forrest give their reaction to the sentencing

In a statement read outside court, Forrest's family said he was "very sorry for his actions" during what they described as a "sorry episode for all concerned".

"Despite the verdict and today's sentence, there are many factors in this case which need to be examined and addressed, including the failure to properly act on early warnings," they said.

"We sincerely hope these are looked into and not simply swept under the carpet."

A spokesman for Bishop Bell School said the staff had only "very limited anecdotal hearsay and no evidence of relationship" when concerns were first raised.

School teacher Jeremy Forrest is led from a prison van into Lewes Crown Crown, in Lewes A jury took just two hours to find Forrest guilty of abduction

He said that before Forrest fled the country, the school had intended to remove him from the classroom while an internal investigation into possible professional misconduct was carried out.

The spokesman said staff remained "deeply shocked by the actions of Mr Forrest and his betrayal of the trust that was placed in him".

"It is important that the strongest possible message is sent to all who work with children that they hold a position of responsibility and trust for the lives, and wellbeing, of those in their care," he said.

"We take our responsibility extremely seriously and our safeguarding policies and procedures are robust.

A police photograph of Jeremy Forrest Jeremy Forrest was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail

"However, we are determined to implement any learning from these events to ensure that all pupils at the school are as safe as they possibly could be."

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ling, of Sussex Police, said Forrest was in a "position of responsibility, authority and trust over the children in his care, which included this young, vulnerable victim".

"He grossly abused the trust placed in him and his actions caused distress and anxiety amongst parents, family members and the school community," he said.

Nigel Pilkington, of the Crown Prosecution Service, added: "We're pleased that Forrest has been sentenced for the full extent of his criminality, sparing his victim and her family from having to go through another trial."

Forrest, of Petts Wood, London, was jailed for four-and-a-half years for sexual activity with a child and one year for abduction.


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CCTV: Theft Victim Flung From Stolen Car

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 20 Juni 2013 | 20.49

Dramatic CCTV footage showing a grocer clinging on to his stolen 4x4 before slamming into an oncoming car has been released by police.

Fruit and vegetable merchant Stuart Timmins was left with crippling leg injuries following his attempt to stop the thief making off with his Mitsubishi truck.

Chase Edwards, aged 30, of Lower Gorenl, was jailed for seven years and four months for a string of offences including theft, robbery and driving while disqualified and without insurance

He pleaded guilty to charges including the theft of the vehicle and trailer containing nine boxes of apples from the grocer in Dudley, in the West Midlands.

Mr Timmins described leaving his office to investigate last March after hearing the door of his truck slam.

He saw the thief in the driver's seat and grabbed on to the roof rail while trying to smash the window and grab the keys from the ignition.

After being dragged a few hundred metres along the road, he realised it was too dangerous to hang on any longer as the pick-up accelerated away.

"I let go and everything seemed to happen in slow motion, although it was only seconds," he said.

"I bounced off a car coming in the opposite direction, which had stopped on seeing what was happening and the trailer went over my leg."

Mr Timmins is still unable to walk and is undergoing physiotherapy.


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South Wales School Car Crash: Several Casualties

A car has overturned after smashing into children and adults outside a primary school in South Wales, injuring nine people.

An air ambulance was scrambled to the "very serious" accident at Rhoose Primary School and treated casualties at the scene.

Karin Williams Karin Williams

Five children and four adults - including the driver of the car and a lollipop lady - were taken to hospital.

Police said no-one had been killed in the collision, which was not thought to have been deliberate. They say the 61-year-old male driver of the vehicle is assisting officers with enquiries.

The lollipop lady was named locally as 50-year-old Karin Williams.

A black Audi was seen on its roof on the pavement just yards from a pelican crossing near the school, before being removed by recovery workers.

A lollipop stick lay on the ground near various items of clothing.

Jeff James, the Vale of Glamorgan councillor for Rhoose, said the driver of the Audi "had a coughing fit and he hit the accelerator instead of the brake."

The scene of a car crash outside Rhoose Primary School on Fontygary Road The overturned Audi was removed from the scene

"I'm on site at the moment," he told WalesOnline.

"What I can tell you is that it was an incident whereby a car was manoeuvring in a lot of traffic and the person who was driving the car had a coughing fit and he hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

"The main brunt was borne by the crossing attendant. Several children were hit as well. I'm not sure how the car ended up on its roof but I would imagine it was due to the driver trying to swerve."

Ellie Stuart, a pupil at the school, told Sky News one of her close friends had been hurt in the accident.

"There was a massive crowd of people and everyone was screaming and crying," she said.

Wide map of Rhoose The school is in the Vale of Glamorgan

Local radio reporter Lucy Short spoke to Sky News from outside the school in Fontygary Road.

"Reports that I've got from people who witnessed the accident say that the car was pulling off at quite a slow rate of speed and accelerated suddenly," she said.

"It's not known why that happened. It would appear to be a sad but freak accident.

"It appears that as it went over the speed bump where the crossing is, it may have turned over because of that and the collision with the pedestrian."

South Wales Police say the accident caused a mixture of serious and minor injuries, but no fatalities. The ages of those hurt is not yet known.

The scene of a car crash outside Rhoose Primary School in Rhoose A lollipop lady's sign could be seen lying at the side of the road

Steve Francis from Captial radio told Sky News that witnesses reported hearing an "incredible bang".

He said he could see "blood everywhere" outside the school, which teachers could be seen attempting to clear.

A number of people at the scene were said to be in tears.

Ian Morris, divisional manager for surgery at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, said: "The emergency unit at University Hospital of Wales is treating adults and children involved in the incident in Rhoose."

A spokeswoman for Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said a "major incident" had been declared and that casualties had been treated at the scene for more than an hour before being taken to hospital.

The road has been closed and emergency services have asked motorists to avoid the area in the Vale of Glamorgan.


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James Gandolfini Dies: Actors Lead Tributes

The cast of hit television series The Sopranos have led tributes to James Gandolfini, describing him as a "giant" and "the most humble and gifted actor".

The star, who was 51, died after suffering a cardiac arrest while on holiday in Italy.

Lorraine Bracco, who played his character Tony's psychiatrist Dr Melfi in the popular show, said: "We lost a giant today. I am utterly heartbroken."

Joe Gannascoli, who played Vito Spatafore, said his death came "way too young".

"James is one guy who never turned his back on me," he told TMZ. "He was the most humble and gifted actor and person I have ever worked with ... and I will forever be indebted to him."

Gandolfini worked alongside some of the biggest names in showbiz during a career spanning more than 25 years.

He co-starred with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts in 2001 comedy The Mexican and teamed up with Denzel Washington and John Travolta for 2009 thriller The Taking of Pelham 123.

He worked with Sean Penn, Jude Law and Kate Winslet in 2006 political drama All the King's Men, as well as Nicholas Cage in 1999's 8MM.

Among the Hollywood actors to pay tribute to him were Samuel L Jackson, who tweeted: "Massive blow to the acting community today ... the passing of James Gandolfini. So talented. My heart goes out to his family!"

"Shocked and saddened by James Gandolfini's passing," wrote Michael J Fox. "My deepest sympathies to his family and friends."

Robin Williams described him as an "extraordinary actor", while Russell Crowe added: "Sad to hear about James Gandolfini. First met Jimmy back in '94. He was roommates in NY with Lenny Loftin. Lovely man. RIP Jimmy."

The Sopranos ran for six seasons from 1999-2007.

Gandolfini starred in 86 episodes currently being re-run on Sky Atlantic, which will show four of the best on Friday evening.

Elaine Pyke, the channel's director, said: "James Gandolfini was a great actor, taken tragically too soon. His legacy, in the lead of one of the greatest television series ever made, will forever stand testament to his remarkable talent."


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Jeremy Forrest: Teacher Guilty Of Abduction

School teacher Jeremy Forrest, who fled the country with a 15-year-old pupil after starting a sexual relationship with her, has been found guilty of abduction.

The 30-year-old, of Petts Wood, London, was convicted by a jury at Lewes Crown Court, who took just two hours to reach their verdict.

As jurors returned to court, Forrest turned to the teenager and said: "I love you."

"I'm sorry," she replied, as he was led away from court.

During his trial, Forrest was labelled a "paedophile" by the prosecution, who said he "groomed" the vulnerable teenager and described his actions as a gross breach of trust.

The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had just turned 15 when the couple started a sexual relationship.

She developed a crush on him at Bishop Bell Church of England School in Eastbourne, East Sussex, and held hands with him on a school trip to Los Angeles.

Fearing their relationship was about to be exposed, Forrest booked them on a cross-Channel ferry from Dover to Calais last September before spending a week on the run in France.

:: Forrest is due to be sentenced at 3pm - live coverage on Sky News.

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Amanda Knox Ruling Cites 'Sex Game' Theory

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 19 Juni 2013 | 20.48

Italy's top criminal court has said its decision to order a retrial of Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend in the murder of Meredith Kercher was made because their acquittals contained shortcomings and contradictions.

The Court of Cassation also said the possibility that Briton Miss Kercher was killed in a sex game that had got out of hand needs to be revisited.

Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were initially found guilty of killing the 21-year-old Leeds University student, but both were cleared on appeal in 2011.

In March of this year, however, Italy's top court overturned the acquittals and ordered a retrial. That court has only now issued its written reasoning for doing so.

Meredith Kercher murder trial Knox was convicted in 2009

It picked apart the lower court's judgment freeing Knox, saying it contained "shortcomings, contradictions and inconsistencies" and "openly collides with objective facts of the case".

The high court's 74-page document also said the judges who freed Knox undervalued the fact that the American had initially accused a man of committing the crime who had nothing to do with it.

Miss Kercher's body was found in November 2007 in her bedroom of the house she shared with Knox in Perugia. Her throat had been slashed.

Knox and Sollecito have denied any involvement, saying they were not in the apartment at the time.

Raffaele Sollecito Raffaele Sollecito was Knox's boyfriend at the time of the murder

A young man from Ivory Coast, Rudy Guede, was convicted of the killing in a separate proceeding and is serving a 16-year sentence.

But Guede is not believed to have acted alone.

The high court judges said the retrial would serve to "demonstrate the presence of the two suspects in the place of the crime".

They said hypotheses that must be considered involve "a group erotic game that blew up and went out of control", and urged the retrial to conduct a full examination of evidence to resolve the ambiguities.

No date has been set for the retrial.

Knox, who left Italy a free woman after her 2011 acquittal, is back in Seattle and is not expected to attend the new trial.

Italian law cannot compel her to return as defendants can be tried in absentia.

She has recently released a book titled Waiting To Be Heard.

Surrounded by family members Amanda Knox makes a few comments Knox was emotional in Seattle after her 2011 acquittal

Sollecito has spent time in Switzerland trying to start a new life, but it has emerged that his residency permit has been revoked by the Swiss authorities.

In his application, he failed to mention his involvement in a criminal case, Italian news reports said.


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'Most Gifted Teacher' Forrest Sobs In Court

A man accused of abducting a schoolgirl and taking her to France wept in court as he was described as "one of the most gifted teachers".

Lewes Crown Court was also told that Jeremy Forrest, who denies a charge of child abduction, will not be giving evidence during his trial.

The court previously heard that the pupil involved in the case was 15 years old when she started a sexual relationship with Forrest after developing a crush on him at Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne, Sussex.

Fearing they were about to be exposed, Forrest booked them on a cross-Channel ferry from Dover to Calais last September before spending a week on the run in France.

The 30-year-old broke down in tears as a witness statement read out in court said he was "one of most gifted teachers I have ever met". Forrest was also said to be "popular with pupils".

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

Benedict Beaumont, a former ICT teacher at Bishop Bell School, said: "Jeremy was one of the most gifted teachers that I have ever met.

"In my opinion, one of the reasons that he was such a good teacher was that he cared deeply about the welfare of all his pupils.

"He was popular with pupils and staff at the school, but more importantly was respected by everyone as a talented and conscientious teacher.

"He is still relatively young but had a very bright future in teaching ahead of him."

Forrest continued crying as a statement from his sister, Carrie Hanspaul, said she believed his caring nature had got him into trouble.

"Jeremy has always been the quietest of us all," her statement said.

"He is very good natured and extremely mild-mannered. 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.

"Unfortunately I believe this has contributed to his recent actions. Jeremy has been in a very difficult relationship for the last six years but did not want to worry any of his family, especially our parents, with his problems.

"Instead he withdrew more and more and tried to deal with the issues himself. I believe he became more and more depressed."

A statement provided by his best friend, Dale Ives Routlett, said Forrest had "always been a thinker, not a person who made rash decisions without taking consequences into account".

Ronald Jaffa, defending, told the court that Forrest would not be giving evidence.

Summing up the prosecution case, Richard Barton told the jury Forrest could be considered as a "paedophile" who had "groomed" the schoolgirl.

"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," he said.

"It is about his desires to have that young sexual flesh, to satisfy his own carnal lusts. You may feel it had nothing to do with her, it was to do with him, with his desires.

"You may feel he is a man who is flattered by the attention of very young, vulnerable girls.

"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."

Mr Barton said it was not a case of Romeo and Juliet as they would have to have been "equal" partners in what happened. He said in this case it was Forrest who organised the elopement.

"A teenager isn't going to get out of Eastbourne, let alone out of the country."

Then, directing his speech at Forrest, he said: "How did you feel, Mr Forrest, that first time with that 14-year-old girl in the classroom in her school uniform, when you kissed her the first time?"

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