Charged: Maths teacher Jeremy Forrest faces 14 years in prison after being charged with 'sexual activity' with a schoolgirl.
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A British teacher accused of running away to France with a schoolgirl is facing a charge of 'sexual activity with a child', a court heard today.
Jeremy Forrest, 30, faces up to 14 years in prison for the alleged offence - double the sentence open to people charged with abduction.
His legal team appeared at the appeal court in Bordeaux, south west France, today to hear an application by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
They want the terms of Forrest's European Arrest Warrant to be extended to cover the offence of 'sexual activity with a child' following the emergence of new evidence.
Forrest, of Petts Wood, south east London, was arrested in Bordeaux on September 28th along with the schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
The amateur musician had sparked an international search as he fled across France with the teenager.
Forrest was first imprisoned in Bordeaux, before being extradited to the UK where, on October 10th he was charged with a abducting a child by Sussex Police.
He made a brief appearance before magistrates in Brighton on November 12 before being remanded in custody in Lewes, Sussex.
Court appearance: Forrest is led into the court in Bordeaux for an earlier appearance.
At present, the British authorities are bound by the terms of the French-issued European Arrest Warrant, meaning they can only charge him with abduction.
There are number of conditions necessary for the 'sexual activity with a child' extension, and they have been discussed at length between prosecutors on both sides of the Channel.
Formal requirement include Forrest accepting an extension of a new warrant, along with Bordeaux's Prosecutor General. An entirely new warrant also needs to be issued.
Forrest did not attend today's court appearance where the CPS offered new evidence suggesting that a sexual offences prosecution against Forrest was appropriate.
Brief stay: The Hotel Huguerie in Bordeaux where Mr Forrest and the schoolgirl stayed during their time in France.
On the run: A coffee shop in Bordeaux frequented by Mr Forrest and the schoolgirl.
A French legal source close to the case said: 'This evidence has emerged following interviews between parties involved in the case.
'Jeremy Forrest's current charge of abduction could see him imprisoned for up to seven years, but the new offence would carry a maximum sentence of fourteen years.'
Today's hearing in Bordeaux was adjourned until more documentation was made available from Britain. A ruling on the case in expected on Friday.
Forrest himself is set to appear again at Brighton Magistrates' Court via video-link for a committal hearing on December 3.
Culled from The Daily Mail UK.
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