British teacher accused of child sexual assault in Turkey faces extradition

A court heard Rebecca Richardson should not be extradited because of her depression

A British teacher accused of sexually assaulting a child in Turkey is facing extradition.

Rebecca Richardson is fighting extradition to Turkey over allegations she sexually assaulted a young child while teaching at an international school in Istanbul.

The alleged incident took place in early 2019, when the child would have been four or five years old.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard on Thursday (April 17), that the 54-year-old from Herefordshire should not be extradited because she has depression.

Dr Richard Latham said Richardson suffers from moderate depression and her symptoms would worsen if she were to be extradited and imprisoned in Turkey.

Graeme Hall, representing Richardson, asked Dr Latham if her symptoms would worsen if she were to be extradited.

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Dr Latham said: "I agree."

Asked if her risk of suicidal thoughts would worsen if she were extradited, Dr Latham replied: "Yes."

He raised concerns about the defendant's risk of suicide if she were to be extradited.

Dr Latham also said the teacher can give the impression she 'is in a better state than she is'.

Dr John Tully, who gave evidence by video link, said he believed Richardson's condition to be mild, with 'no objective signs she was severely depressed'.

Richardson, who sat in seats in front of the dock, donned a white shirt and black blazer.

She spoke only to confirm she understood her duty to return to court for her next hearing.

Richardson was granted conditional bail and will face a further extradition hearing on June 2.

The decision on her extradition is not expected until two weeks after that.

Richardson, of Cradley in Herefordshire, left the UK in 2000 and spent almost 20 years living abroad.

She lived in Turkey between 2013 and 2019.

Before that, she lived in Mexico and Hong Kong, the extradition hearing was told.