Former PE teacher guilty of sexual activity with 16-year-old schoolboy

A former PE teacher has been found guilty of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old schoolboy.

Bronwen James, 30, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday of three counts of sexual activity with the pupil while working at Bitterne Park School in Southampton, Hampshire.

James was found not guilty of one count of sexual activity with the student.

She flirted with the boy in class before they started sending Snapchat messages, the court heard.

James later drove him to Weston Shore in Southampton, where they kissed in her car.

The pair later went to the defendant's house where they watched television, before going to James' bedroom where they had sex.

She previously pleaded guilty to four counts of engaging in sexual activity and one count of sexual communication with another schoolgirl, and two charges of sexual activity, one count of sexual communication and making an indecent photograph of a child relating to a second schoolgirl.

Edward Culver, prosecuting, said another student showed a teacher text messages which James and the boy had supposedly exchanged.

He told the trial: "They suggested a sexually-charged relationship, he was named as 'number 8' in the messages as a cover, him being the eighth man she had slept with. Her photo was visible on the phone screen."

Mr Culver went on: "She acted not only in an unprofessional and overfamiliar way, but failed to recognise any boundaries, exploiting her position to engage in sexual activity with one of her young students."

During a police interview, the boy said he had been "groomed" by James.

He added that she would "slip him vapes" in his coursework and also said she liked him to call her "miss" when they were alone.

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Bethany Adams, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "James manipulated her victims with calculated precision, exploiting her position of authority to isolate them and normalise the abuse.

"This was not a lapse in judgment; it was a sustained pattern of predatory behaviour against children in her care."

James is due back at Winchester Crown Court on Monday to find out the date of her sentencing, and will be remanded into custody.

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