Why didn't the school stop them? Staff warned teacher seven times in seven months over relationship with girl... but didn't tell the police Jeremy Forrest's colleagues spoke to him seven times in seven months about their concerns over his conduct Jury heard the teachers warned Forrest to keep his distance from the "infatuated" schoolgirl Trial: School teacher Jeremy Forrest is led from a prison van into Lewes Crown Crown, which heard that police halted their probe before he fled to France with a pupil The teacher accused of abducting a 15-year-old pupil he was having sex with was warned seven times by colleagues that their relationship was inappropriate, a court heard yesterday. However, none of them reported their concerns about Jeremy Forrest to police. Staff were even tipped off by concerned pupils about Forrest and the "infatuated" schoolgirl. The police were eventually alerted when someone outside the school raised concerns. Police seized the 15-year-old's mobile phone after being told Forrest, 30, had sent her intimate photographs of himself. But detectives told senior staff at Bishop Bell C of E School in Eastbourne, East Sussex, they had not found any evidence on the girl's phone, and had decided not to examine Forrest's mobile, Lewes Crown Court heard. Hours later, they absconded to Bordeaux. Forrest was arrested after eight days on the run. Police searches then revealed the couple had in fact exchanged topless pictures of each other. Teachers yesterday told the court how Forrest had repeatedly lied when confronted about his relationship with the girl. He tearfully accused her of lying as he denied the claims to colleagues, it was alleged. Staff were even worried about the stress the rumours were causing him, the court heard. Police began investigating on September 14 last year after the tip-off and took the girl's phone for analysis five days later. But Alicja Bobela, the school's assistant head in charge of child protection, said police called her on September 20, adding: "They said there was no evidence on the girl's phone so they were not going to seize Jeremy's. We were left with the idea we had to follow up the investigation. That evening, fearing their relationship was about to be exposed, Forrest drove the girl to Dover where they took a ferry to Calais. Forrest was first warned by colleagues to keep his distance from the girl after a school trip to Los Angeles in February 2012. Emma Tremaman, who taught ICT and business, said she spoke to Forrest about rumours that the girl had a crush on him and that he showed her favouritism. She told the court: "He just said thank you." Neil Pittman, head of the upper school, also spoke to Forrest after two pupils said stories were going around the school. The science teacher said: "It's not unusual for teenage girls to have a crush on a male teacher, but it is unusual for it to be discussed openly." Mr Pittman said Forrest agreed to keep his distance from the girl. But Mr Pittman later saw him "laughing and joking" with her. Forrest also arranged for her to be taken out of exclusion, where she was sent for misbehaviour, so she could attend his maths revision lesson, he said. Mr Pittman said: "Potentially, it wasn't a wise thing to do." Miss Bobela said pupils had told her in May that Forrest had been sending the girl private Twitter messages describing his marriage problems. She called the local authority and Forrest, who denied the claims. After more rumours, the teenager was removed from Forrest's maths class in mid June. When another teacher confronted Forrest last July about stories that he was picking the girl up in his car, he came to speak to Miss Bobela. She told the court: "He said, "Why is she doing this to me?" He seemed tearful. Mark Talbot, the school's deputy head, also spoke to Forrest "to make sure he was clear about professional boundaries," adding: "It was apparent to us that he was not heeding the advice of Miss Bobela." Forrest seemed "irritated" about being questioned, he said. Mr Talbot said he spoke to Forrest again in May.