Former teacher found guilty of sexually abusing pupils at two schools
A former PE teacher in England has been found to have sexually abused three pupils across two schools, after admitting some offences and being convicted of others at trial.
A court in England has found a former physical education teacher guilty of sexually abusing three pupils during her time at two different schools. Bronwen James, 30, from Chippenham, had already admitted nine sexual offences against two teenage girls — one a pupil at Bitterne Park School in Southampton, the other at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.
Winchester Crown Court has now also convicted her of three counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old boy who attended Bitterne Park School, where James previously taught. The jury reached its verdict on those charges by a majority of 11 to one, while clearing her of a fourth related charge.
Prosecutors told the trial that James had "craved" attention and betrayed the trust placed in her as a teacher. They said she had a "flirty" relationship with the boy, exchanging messages with him on Snapchat before the two had sex at her home on three or four occasions. The court also heard that James told the boy she loved him and wanted him to move away with her.
Giving evidence, the teenager said he had believed at the time that James cared about him and thought the situation was "any teenage boy's dream," though he now recognises it was wrong. James denied all the charges against her, claiming the boy had invented the allegations to appear impressive to others.
Following the verdict, delivered as James stood silently looking at the floor, the judge ordered her to surrender her passport. She will be electronically monitored until Monday, when she is due to be taken into custody ahead of sentencing.
