Jailed teacher Jeremy Forrest: 'I won’t abandon my 16-year-old lover'

The shamed teacher, jailed for eloping to France with the girl when she was 15, has written to the Daily Express claiming that a ban on contact with her breaches his human rights.

In an emotional letter from his cell he complains that their enforced separation is “torture”, and claims he was moved to Dartmoor Prison as punishment for his feelings.

Forrest, 31, also claims that his rehabilitation is being seriously affected by Dartmoor’s “isolated geography”.

The seven-page hand- written letter is the first time Forrest has made contact with anyone outside his family and demonstrates his continuing feelings for the girl. He wrote: “The reason why contact is so vital to us is because of the support and stability our relationship gives our lives.”

He added: “She is the most remarkable person I have ever met and the strength she continues to show is nothing short of amazing. I will not abandon her.”

Forrest, of East Sussex, and the pupil fled the UK in September 2012, hours before their romance was exposed, having driven to Dover before boarding a cross-Channel ferry.

While on the Continent they dyed their hair, stayed in budget hotels and touted bogus CVs in a bid to land bar work. They spent seven days on the run before being caught in an undercover police sting in Bordeaux. Last year, Forrest was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Lewes Crown Court for child abduction and sexual activity with a child. He is due to be released next year.

He claims he agreed to face sex charges only on condition he was allowed to correspond with the girl, now 16, who cannot be identified.

But Forrest was banned from reading a series of “warm and affectionate” letters from the girl, which showed she still wanted to be with him.

Forrest claimed their relationship embarrassed authorities at Ashfield Prison in Gloucestershire, so he was “punished” with a move that cost him his privileged status. He said: “Both (the girl) and I are being treated with an absolute disregard for our future and wellbeing...We were both promised contact as soon as my trial was over.”

Forrest retrained as a cook and had just started a self-funded Open University degree while at Ashfield. He boasted of an “excellent” relationship with the governor and guards.

Commenting on the communication ban he said: “The restriction on correspondence has to be lifted if the victim writes to the offender. Due to her age there can be no restriction put on her and it is a breach of Articles 8 and 10 of the European Human Rights act to not allow this contact.”

He signs off with a joke, saying: “If you’re ever in Devon pop round for a cup of tea!” The Prison Service said it did not comment on individual cases.