Teacher denies child abduction

Jeremy Forrest, 30, was arrested in Bordeaux in France on September 28 under a European arrest warrant.

Forrest – a teacher at Bishop Bell CofE School in Eastbourne, East Sussex – was charged by Sussex Police on October 10 with abducting a child, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

At a preliminary hearing at Lewes Crown Court, Forrest denied child abduction via videolink from HMP Lewes.

Prosecutor Richard Barton said a two-week trial will be heard at the same court from June 10. A pre-trial review will be heard on May 17.

No bail application was made and Forrest, of Petts Wood, south-east London, was remanded in custody.