JOHN WUNDERLE FROM WOODFORD GREEN CAUGHT IN SEXUAL PLOT WITH TEENAGE GIRL IN AMSTERDAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Woodford and the surrounding areas, John Wunderle, a 35-year-old mathematics teacher, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sexual offences involving a 15-year-old girl. The incident, which unfolded over several months, revealed a troubling pattern of grooming and manipulation by Wunderle, who was employed at Bancroft’s School in Woodford Green.

According to court proceedings, Wunderle and the teenage victim had been engaged in a clandestine relationship that was characterized by grooming and emotional manipulation. The court heard that Wunderle, who holds a PhD in mathematics, had been infatuated with the girl and had been planning to run away with her to Amsterdam. The plan was to escape via ferry to Holland, as the prosecutor Nicholas Bleaney detailed during the hearing. However, the couple’s plans appeared to be hindered by financial constraints, as indicated by the internet searches found on the girl’s phone, which included a search for the name of a girl who had previously run away with teacher Jeremy Forrest two years earlier.

During a victim impact statement, the teenage girl expressed feelings of being manipulated by Wunderle. She stated that at the time, she believed her actions were consensual and that she loved him. However, she now recognizes that she was deceived and manipulated, which has significantly damaged her confidence and self-esteem. The court was told that she felt “stupid” and questioned her own judgment, highlighting the profound emotional toll this ordeal has taken on her.

Wunderle’s arrest was triggered when the victim’s mother unexpectedly walked in on him while he was getting dressed in her daughter’s bedroom. Following his arrest, Wunderle was released on bail under strict conditions not to contact the girl. Despite this, he violated the bail conditions by using an alias to reach out to her on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, where he arranged to meet her again. His actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the court’s orders and the seriousness of his offences.

Wunderle, who was residing in Waltham Abbey at the time, was eventually caught in a car with the girl by a private detective. This evidence confirmed his continued contact and involvement with the victim, further implicating him in the ongoing criminal activity. The court heard that Wunderle’s behaviour was not only inappropriate but also indicative of a profound lack of judgment and maturity, as noted by his legal representative, Nan Mousley. She argued that Wunderle’s actions, while wrong, were motivated by a desire to pursue a “lifetime relationship” with the girl, which she described as misguided.

Judge Nigel Peters, presiding over the case, addressed the court and the public’s concerns about the nature of the offences. He emphasized that Wunderle would have been fully aware of the public outrage surrounding sexual relationships between older men and young girls. The judge remarked that if Wunderle’s mother had not intervened, the offences might have continued unchecked. Ultimately, Wunderle was sentenced to four years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the societal need to protect vulnerable minors from predatory behaviour.