A teacher who abducted a 15-year-old schoolgirl and fled with her to France has been fired from his new job after employers uncovered his past.
Child abduction
Jeremy Forrest, who was 31 at the time of the offences, was jailed for five-and-a-half-years in June 2013 for child abduction and five charges of sexual activity with a child.
He had taken the teenager to Bordeaux in September 2012, after fearing his sexual relationship with her was about to be exposed.
Since leaving prison, he had begun a new life as an artisan baker in Bishopbourne, Kent – but this appears to have come crashing down after his old identity was uncovered by his bosses.
He was relieved of his duties
In a statement on social media, Gilda Bakery wrote: ‘Since learning of the sensitive nature of this employee’s history, it was mutually agreed that it was in the best interest of Gilda that his employment was terminated with immediate effect.’
A bio on the bakery’s website listed his title as Head Baker and described his ‘extraordinary passion for sourdough, hard work and commitment’, reported the Sun, though this has since been removed.
‘He never stops learning about the process, care and attention that goes into making the perfect loaf’, the bio added.
He changed his name for new identity
The convicted sex offender is said to have taken the name Jeremy Buonocore since reinventing himself, and has performed as a frontman for a local rock band.
His trial at Lewes Crown Court in 2013 heard that he took the girl for an overnight stay at the house he shared with his then wife Emily. After their affair was discovered, the pair fled to France, sparking an international manhunt.
He was only caught when the pair ran out of money in Bordeaux and he tried to seek work in a bar, where he was recognised.
In sentencing remarks at Lewes Crown Court as he sentenced Forrest to five-and-a-half years in prison on 21 June 2013, Judge Lawson QC told him: ‘Your behaviour over this period had 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.
‘It has damaged you too, but that was something you were prepared to risk. You now have to pay that price.’
Jeremy Forrest’s new job
Following his release, family friends said Forrest – who is banned from teaching for life as a registered sex offender – hoped to start a new career as a life coach or academic author.
