1 May 2012

Scandal-hit music teacher, 49, splits up with pupil he seduced when she was just 16, seven years after 'aberration' wedding


Split up: John Forrester, 49, was head of music at Kincorth Academy in Aberdeen when he started a relationship with choir-girl Claire Bennett, who was only 16A disgraced teacher and a pupil he married after an illicit affair, have split up after seven years together it was revealed today.
John Forrester, 49, was head of music at Kincorth Academy in Aberdeen when he started a relationship with choir-girl Claire Bennett, who was only 16.
Despite the controversy that surrounded their relationship - which ended his teaching career and turned her family against her - the couple married and have two children.
But speaking at her home at Auchenblae, Mrs Forrester told a local newspaper they were no longer together, and that her husband had moved out.
The 24-year-old said the pair were 'not on good terms.'
It is understood Mr Forrester has been staying for two weeks in a nearby property once owned by his wife's grandmother.
He has reportedly been spotted picking up his son from the home the couple once shared and taking him to school.
Mr Forrester has already hit the headlines this week as it was revealed that the former teacher, who turns 50 this year, has became secretary of the local parent-teacher council at Auchenblae Primary School after fellow parents voted him into the role.
The couple's relationship caused a scandal when it emerged in 2005.
Mr Forrester, then aged 44, had not long been reinstated to his post as head of music at Kincorth Academy after being investigated over an alleged affair with another teenage pupil while still married to his first wife.
He was cleared of any wrongdoing and allowed to return to his senior post under supervision.
Happier times: The couple with Erin, one of their children. Mrs Forrester told a local newspaper that her husband had moved out and the 24-year-old said the pair were 'not on good terms
However, when Claire, originally from Kincorth, joined his class and the choir, the pair started a relationship.
At first they chatted through mobile phone messages and this evolved into a relationship.
Mr Forrester quit his post so they could be together and the girl abandoned her studies and ran away from home.
They moved into a flat in Torry in February 2005 and got engaged two years later.
Officials at Aberdeen City Council reported Mr Forrester to police, sparking an investigation that resulted in him being charged under the Sexual Offences Act.
However, the Crown Office decided the case was 'not in the public interest' and did not prosecute.
The couple married in November 2010 at Ferryhill Church, but local newspaper Daily Record reported at the time that it didn't got as smoothly as the couple hoped -  Mr Forrester shouted and swore at photographers and chased one across the road, leaving his bride in tears.
A children's charity called the wedding an 'aberration' and said it went against 'moral codes of not only his profession, but of society'.
The couple settled in the Mearns village of Auchenblae with their two children, Erin, born in December 2005, and Andrew, who was born in January 2008.
It was reported that Mr Forrester took a job working in a local supermarket after leaving the school.
The pair met at Kincorth Academy in Aberdeen
The pair met at Kincorth Academy in Aberdeen
Mrs Forrester's mother, Shelagh Douglas, disapproved of the relationship from the start, saying her daughter had 'a lot of growing up to do'.
She said: 'I don't care if my daughter and John are still together in 20 years' time, I have never accepted the relationship and never will.'
They said they maintained their relationship, despite living in a disapproving community, because they loved each other.
Mr Forrester told a 2005 TV documentary, called Sleeping with Teacher: 'We knew it wasn't going to be easy and it hasn't.'
Determined: Mr Forrester quit his post so they could be together and the girl abandoned her studies and ran away from home. They moved into a flat in Torry in February 2005 and got engaged two years later

You never forget your first love! Twilight hunk Taylor Lautner enjoys romantic date with high school sweetheart

He’s dated some of the most beautiful starlets in Hollywood including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and most recently Lily Collins.
But Taylor Lautner last night showed he has never forgotten his first love as he dined out in Los Angeles with high school sweetheart Sara Hicks.
The pair dressed down for their date with LA Clippers cheerleader Sara, 19, in a simple grey top, while Taylor made sure he didn’t attract unwanted attention in a baseball cap and leather jacket.
The actor drove himself and his rumoured love away from the restaurant and neither seemed fazed by the waiting photographers, showing they aren’t worried about going public with their reunion.
Taylor Lautner takes out high school sweetheart Sara Hicks for dinner at a restaurant in Los AngelesSara and Twilight star Taylor first dated in high school before the 20-year-old actor found fame in the vampire film franchise.
Taylor Lautner and Lily Collins in AbductionFriends previously told US Weekly that the on/off couple 'have been hanging out a lot in LA, seeing a few shows and going to dinner' and it appears as if they have decided to give their romance another shot.
Nice guy Taylor is in the habit of keeping in touch with his exes, with former love and Abductio co-star Lily Collins praising him in a recent interview.
Taylor Lautner with ex-girlfriend Lily Collins in movie Abduction
Lily – who was dumped by the actor in September - told Seventeen magazine: ‘He’s a talented actor and a gentleman. Taylor is very humble. He has so many fans and he never forgets that.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse with Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Taylor Lautner as Jacob BlackTaylor Lautner in Breaking Dawn'He really appreciates the support that he’s gotten through the years, and he gives it right back — to me, that makes a good leading man.’
Similarly, Taylor has nothing but praise for Lily, saying: 'You can feel some sort of chemistry or a connection when you are reading a script with someone for the first time. And that was totally the case with Lily.'
Despite starring in one of the biggest teen franchises of all time, Taylor’s career seems to have taken a hit recently so it is understandable that he would return to someone who knew him before he found fame.
After the underwhelming box office performance of Abduction, Taylor only has one move to be released this year, the final instalment of Twilight, Breaking Dawn - Part 2.
The only other movie he is currently attached to is next year’s Grown Ups 2.

'Just realised how dumb I look taking self pics': Rihanna goes bare-faced for down to earth Twitter snaps

There are few airs and graces with Rihanna.
The singer is refreshingly frank about her personal life - happily swearing, sharing her love of R-rated partying and hinting at tidbits from her love life to her 18 million Twitter followers.
And while the We Found Love hitmaker is a little too honest for some, no one can complain about her down-to-earth attitude towards showing fans what she looks like beneath all the stage make-up and out-there outfits she's usually pictured in.
Bare-faced: Rihanna wasn't shy about showing off her natural beauty in a picture posted on her Twitter
In one of her latest Twitter posts, Rihanna wrote: 'Just realized how dumb u look takin self pix on iPhone' (sic).
In stark contrast to some celebrities who post pouty pictures online, Rihanna laughs at herself, poking fun at her attempts to pose for a snap.
In the first picture, Rihanna stares at the camera looking somewhat disgruntled, clearly unconvinced by her self-portrait skills.
In the next she gazes at the camera, before bursting into giggles in the following two pictures.
Down to earth: Rihanna posted this snap of her and her brother larking about this weekAloha: Rihanna was leaving Hawaii after a holiday, and posted this picture from the plane
The singer clearly does not mind being seen without her slap, snapping the self portraits without a scrap of make-up on.
Rihanna's approach to sharing her life with fans has attracted criticism in the past. At Coachella last month the star tweeted a picture of herself in which it was alleged she was doing drugs.
Singer turned actress: The star has been signed on to another film project following her acting debut in BattleshipThe Battleship star has just left Hawaii where she was enjoying a holiday following promotional duties for the film.
And now she has landed another role on the big screen.
Today it has been revealed that Rihanna has been cast to play a villainous role in the upcoming blockbuster The Fast and the Furious 6.
The singer will star in the movie alongside Vin Diesel and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
An inside source told the Sun, 'Rihanna impressed with her acting debut in Battleship.'
'Writers think she’ll be perfect for the role. Her character has plenty of bite and doesn’t take any prisoners - just like her in real life.'