Post date: Sep 29, 2012 7:9:38 AM
SUSSEX, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 28, 2012)(ITN) - A runaway British schoolgirl and her 30-year-old maths teacher were picked up by police in the southern French city of Bordeaux on Friday (September 28), after a week-long manhunt which gripped U.K. media, police sources said.
British police say a missing schoolgirl has been found safe and well in France.
Police said there had been several sightings of the missing pair before they were eventually found."There was a third sighting in the town of Bordeaux after a member of the public recognised Jeremy from television coverage that afternoon. We were swiftly able to confirm the sighting. A joint operation between the French police, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Sussex police was commenced immediately and as a result, both Megan and Jeremy were safely located and detained in the city of Bordeaux at 12.20pm U.K time today, Friday 28th September," chief inspector Jason Tingley told a news conference in the southern English town of Sussex, where Stammers is from.
British police secured a European arrest warrant for teacher Jeremy Forrest on Thursday.
He was placed in French police custody on suspicion of child abduction after he was stopped on a city street with the 15-year-old girl, police sources said.
However he faces no charges in France and can only be detained there for a maximum of 48 hours before a decision must be taken on his case.
"Jeremy is in custody in Bordeaux after his arrest and the process of his extradition will now commence," said chief inspector Tingley.
Police said Stammers was now in the care of British consul staff and child protection officers and that she would undergo a medical examination before being handed over to her parents.
The 15-year-old's stepfather said the family were overjoyed that their ordeal was now over.
"Danielle and I are so relieved that Megan has been found safe and well and we just can't wait to be reunited with her. Our family are overjoyed at the outcome - as you can imagine it's just been an absolute emotional rollercoaster," said Martin Stammers.
An emotional appeal by Megan Stammers' parents for her return has dominated British television and newspaper headlines since the couple went missing last Thursday.