Former PE teacher found guilty of having sex with 16-year-old pupilBronwen James, 30, was convicted of the charges involving a schoolboy at Bitterne Park School in Southampton, Hampshire.Ben Mitchell9 minutes ago
A “flirty” PE teacher who “exploited her position” at a Hampshire school has been found guilty of having sex with a 16-year-old schoolboy.
Bronwen James, 30, was convicted of three counts of sexual activity involving the schoolboy at Bitterne Park School in Southampton following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.
Jurors also found James not guilty on one count of sexual activity with the pupil following 12 hours of deliberations.
James showed no emotion and could be seen looking down as the verdicts were returned.
It can now also be reported the defendant also stands to be sentenced having previously pleaded guilty to charges in relation to two schoolgirls.
These are four counts of engaging in sexual activity and one count of sexual communication with the first girl and two charges of sexual activity, one count of sexual communication and making an indecent photograph of a child relating to the second girl.
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The trial heard the former teacher flirted with the 16-year-old student in class before they started sending Snapchat messages and arranged for her to drive him to Weston Shore in Southampton, where they kissed in her car.
This then progressed to the pair going to the defendant’s house where they cuddled while watching Wimbledon on the television before going to her bedroom where they had sex.
Edward Culver, prosecuting, told the trial the school was made aware of the incident after another student showed a teacher some text messages apparently sent between the defendant and the complainant.
He said: “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 said: “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.”
In a police interview shown to the court, the boy said he had been “groomed” by the defendant.
He added: “I thought this was great, any teenage boy’s dream, but I think it was wrong, at the time I wasn’t thinking that.”
The boy added that in class, James, who he described as “quite attractive” would “slip him vapes” in his coursework and also said she liked him to call her “Miss” when they were alone together.
He said: “I always called her ‘Miss’, I don’t know why, I think it was her little fantasy or something.”
Wiltshire Police previously confirmed James, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, taught PE at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham and Bitterne Park School in Southampton.
Bethany Adams, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Bronwen James was trusted to educate and protect children.
“Instead, she used that trust to groom and sexually abuse three students.
“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.
“The courage shown by James’s victims in coming forward has been instrumental in securing this conviction.
“I hope it gives them, and their families, some measure of justice.”
James will re-appear at the Winchester Crown Court on Monday to find out the date of her sentencing and will be remanded into custody.
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