Megan: Teacher's Parents Make Emotional Appeal

Jeremy Forrest's father has urged him to get in touch and return home with schoolgirl Megan Stammers.

Jim Forrest made the appeal during a press conference at Sussex Police headquarters after a European warrant was issued for his 30-year-old son's arrest.

"Hi Megan, hi Jeremy, I hope this message reaches you and you're both okay. There are a lot of people back home who are desperate to hear from you," he said.

"All I'm asking is for one of you to send an email to let us know you're both safe. Please, please get in contact."

Mr Forrest, from Petts Wood, south east London, appeared alongside his tearful wife Julie to make the appeal a week after the pair boarded a ferry to France.

Sussex Police, who are leading the inquiry, still have no confirmed sightings of them.

The officer in charge, Chief Inspector Jason Tingley, said: "We are working closely with an enquiry team in Paris.

"Efforts abroad have been specifically focussed on information gathering. We are in a position to act swiftly to any information concerning their whereabouts.

"Locating the pair to ensure their safe return remains our top priority. This has probably not gone the way that Megan or Jeremy expected.

"Jeremy will be aware that he has questions to answer, and making contact with us is the best way he can do this.

"As part of the process of working with the French authorities, we have secured an international letter of request and a European Arrest Warrant.

"These orders, which have been obtained with the help of the Crown Prosecution Service, enable us to work with the European authorities, and are in relation to an offence of child abduction. This means taking Megan without the consent of her parents.

"The full details of this warrant have been circulated to every EU country. When the pair are found in an EU country, Jeremy can be arrested and Megan will be taken into protection."

Chief Inspector Tingley said an officer from the Sussex force had gone to Paris to work with French police searching for the pair.

He added their tickets to France were bought in advance and that they believed Megan, 15, went willingly with Mr Forrest and was not coerced.

But he refused to comment on whether Mr Forrest was being investigated before she and Mr Forrest set off to France.

"That is part of the investigation which I'm not willing to speak about," he said. "There was clearly a line of inquiry in regards to that and we'll be following that through."

Megan's step-father has made a fresh appeal for police and the public abroad not to give up trying to find her and Mr Forrest, who taught maths at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Mr Stammers tweeted: "Please continue your efforts, if I could thank you all individually I would, your help is invaluable I implore you to RT #findmeganstammers."

The case is set to feature on the BBC's Crimewatch TV programme tonight.

Meanwhile, girl group The Saturdays have appealed for Megan to come home.

Writing on Twitter, the band's Frankie Sandford said: "Megan, on behalf of myself Mollie, Vanessa, Una and Roch, please come home or call your mum. Everyone is so worried about you! Lots of love x."

The Sun newspaper has produced missing posters in English and French to help the search for the teenager.

Megan is 5ft 6ins, slim, with long, straight, dark brown hair and blue eyes, and was last seen wearing a white vest top and silver chain.

Mr Forrest is 6ft, slim, with fuzzy facial hair and mousy brown hair. He wears square glasses, tends to dress casually and has a black star tattoo on his upper left arm.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 101, quoting Operation Oakwood.

A dedicated telephone number and text number which can be used from abroad have also been set up. They are 00 44 1273 475432 or text +447786 208090.