Runaway girl, 16, reveals plans to marry her RE teacher, 50... after he divorces his third wife

Father-of-two Clive Richards, 50, who has already been married three times, says he expects to wed Jessica Anderson next autumn, after she turns 18.

Deputy head girl Jessica moved into Richards's home after being taught by him at her mixed comprehensive school.

Jess Anderson, 16, and her former teacher Clive Richards, 50, have revealed they will marry next year once she turns 18

Her parents were devastated by the relationship. The latest news has left them so distraught that they are planning to move away from the area.

Richards and Jessica live in a rented cottage in the village of Goldsithney, near Penzance, Cornwall, and have announced they will marry in September 2009. He said: 'Despite common predictions, we are still together and very happy. We have taken this at our own pace and it has been very hard.

'But we have had some great and unexpected support from people. In 15 months' time we plan to get married. There have been rumours Jess is pregnant but that is not true. But we are getting married.'

Former deputy head girl Jess says she 'is deeply in love' with Richards

Jessica said: 'I am frustrated that everyone thinks I've been brainwashed. I am an individual with my own mind and this is what I want.'

Since the relationship was revealed by the Daily Mail almost six months ago, Jessica has also told how she fell 'deeply in love' with grey-haired Richards and denied allegations that she was groomed.

She said: 'Myself and Clive share numerous enjoyments through music, films and books. Sadly a lot of pain has been caused, but I hope we can be loving families again. We're are very happy. I just wish would people would respect that.'

She told her family about the relationship in an email which read: 'I will not be coming home. Clive and I are to settle down together and just get on with our life.'

Jessica has been living with Richards and his 14-year-old son Ben in the same village as her mother Frances Hichens, 38, her stepfather Phil Hichens, 50, and her 13-year-old brother. Her father, Steven Anderson, also lives nearby.

Mrs Hichens, a hospital ward clerk, and her husband, a property developer, have put their £550,000 four-bedroom home up for sale.

She said: 'We are still at a loss to understand how this happened. She is such a sweet girl. The whole family is still very upset about it. We still cry about it all the time.

'We have had very little contact with Jess and what there has been has been fairly hostile.'

Jess's mother Frances Hichens, stepfather Phil and father Steven Anderson (right) have all spoken out about their daughter's relationship

She added: 'I have no idea of their plans for the future. As far as I know, neither of them do anything for money at the moment.

'We are moving away from here to somewhere where I don't feel I have a beacon on my head every time I leave the house.'

Richards had been living in the cottage with his wife Julia and their two sons until three days before Jessica moved in earlier this year. It is not known whether Richards has begun divorce proceedings.

He left his post at Mounts Bay School, Penzance, in April 2007 and always insisted the relationship began after Jessica turned 16 and after he had left the school.

After leaving, he began preliminary training to become a vicar at a local parish.

But this ended after some churchgoers became concerned about his behaviour.

He and Jessica are believed to be living on income support and child benefits.