Megan Stammers

Will be intresting to see how this unfolds now seeing as the school apparently knew there was something going on!

Glad she's safe. Her parents must be so relieved!

Why have the French decided to arrest him after all? They said they wouldn't yesterday. I can't believe the school and police knew but her parents didn't, something doesn't add up there.

A European arrest warrant was issued

Oh ok. Was a bit confused as yesterday they said it wasn't a criminal offence as the age of consent is 15 in France. (Although it's 13 in Spain and they said they'd arrest him.)

They got him on the fact he was her teacher as opposed to the age thing

I don't condone what happened in any way shape or form and I know her parents must have been going spare but I don't get the impression she was in any danger.

I know I may get flamed for that and I'm aware there's a whole grooming element to consider but I think she was there completely willingly.

I agree. From what has been reported, its sounds like a genuine love, he just went about it in a completely wrong way. Had he waited a year, and not persuaded her to run away, it would be quite a romantic story

I sort of agree Kharv. Don't think she was groomed or that he's a paedophile, but he was her teacher. That's where the line was crossed. Can't blame them for having feelings but if he felt that strongly he should have put a stop to it or left his job and waited a while. There is no excuse for a teacher to breach that trust. Oh and the fact that he's married doesn't exactly endear him to me either.

Oh, absolutely. I just wasn't 'worried' about her, IYKWIM?

No, I don't think she was ever in danger. Although I was starting to think it was odd that she'd not even sent a text or called just to say "I'm ok." His Dad also said he was worried that his son was vulnerable and might "flip."

It would still have been an offence as she would still be under 18.

I completely agree x

i agree totally

i agree totally

It's the poor wife I feel sorry for.

esp as they published pictures of her and where they live!!

Me too. She's been forgotten in all this and must be distraught and humiliated

I'd like to take back my comment about it otherwise being a romantic story. It's not really. I say stupid stuff sometimes

I agree with this.

Do you think she loved him? Can you love someone at that age when you have never been in love before?

with a teacher student relationship i think its 18

I had no idea there was an actual law about teacher student relationships. Rightly so.

She could have been in danger. More than anything, he could have just left her and ran away on his own to get away from all the police. Then she would have been a 15 year old girl, on her own, in a foreign country.

I know it's coulda, but still...

I feel sorry for his wife too , I think it was very wrong to publish her picture. This is also the 3rd scandal to happen at that school. Another teacher is in prison for having sex with 2 pupils and a governor is awaiting trial for sex offences too. If I worked there I'd get out quick!

On a less serious note, some of the best comments I've seen elsewhere are: "Not a very good maths teacher, he can't even count to 16" and "I bet he didn't even set cover work."

The abuse of a position of trust is a criminal offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The act says that a person over the age of 18 who is in a position of trust over a person under the age of 18 commits a criminal offence if they involve the younger person in sexual activity.

I know, just dreadful.

Watching his poor parents last night on the news in their appeal, really brought home how totally selfish his actions were and hardly very intelligent. The impact of his actions on his immediate family and friends is unforgiveable. He obviously wasn't thinking very far ahead, What was the plan exactly after going to France? Was he seriously thinking he could just leave his old life behind?

Also extremely concerning to think someone like that was in charge of childrens education.

I also don't think she was in any danger, but I do agree with his arrest. A 15 year old girl should be at school and with her parents. In theory, what if they hadn't got caught but the relationship just didn't work out after a few months? She'd be a young girl on her own in a foreign country. If he really loved her and respected her he would have ended his marriage, waited til she was 16 and not dragged her away from her family and everything she knows.

I know. Poor woman.

Completely agree Peanut.

Yes, completely and utterly selfish.

Clearly not thinking straight - they were caught in the middle of a shopping centre in Bordeaux.

This whole scenario is utterly ridiculous, like a bad television movie plot!

He is obviously an idiot. If he fell in love with her, he should have damn well divorced his wife, quit his job, and waited a year (OR THREE!) and then made a go of it. True love can wait a bit. FFS, what an imbecile!

I feel bad for so many people in this story, but I can't help but wonder if no one could tell something was going on, or that he wasn't of sound character. He's obviously not the brightest crayon in the box, he couldn't have been great at hiding this side of himself. According to the daily mail, his wife kept a blog where she constantly talked about their perfect marriage... I so desperately want to read her blog, but I believe it's been made private (understandably!)

Agree completely!

I guess love can make you blind (assuming it is love)