Former PE teacher Bronwen James, 30, has been found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust, after sexually abusing a 16-year-old schoolboy. It can now be reported that James had previously admitted nine sexual offences against two schoolgirls, one a pupil at Bitterne Park School in Southampton and another from Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.
Snapchat relationship and abuse
The court heard that James, a former sports teacher, entered into a "flirty" Snapchat relationship with the 16-year-old pupil before having sex with him "three or four" times at her home in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Media reporting restrictions were lifted following the conclusion of her trial.
During the five-day trial, prosecutors told the jury that James "craved" attention and "abused the trust put in her" as an educator, telling the boy she loved him and asking him to move away with her. Giving evidence, the victim said: "I thought she cared about me. I thought this was great, any teenage boy's dream, but [now] I think it was wrong. At the time I wasn't thinking that."
Verdict and previous convictions
James, who denied the charges and claimed the boy made up the allegations to "look cool", showed no emotion as the jury returned a majority verdict of 11 to one on three counts, while acquitting her of a fourth. Her previous convictions, which were kept from the jury until after the verdict, include six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child and one count of making indecent images of a child.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Bethany Adams 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 judgement; it was a sustained pattern of predatory behaviour against children in her care."
Charity and school responses
An NSPCC spokesperson noted that James had "exploited" a "position of trust" where she was meant to "support, protect and educate those in her professional care." The charity said: "When someone in authority abuses a trusted relationship, young people can find it particularly difficult to recognise what is happening or to speak out about it, and it can have a profound and lasting impact on their wellbeing."
A spokesperson for Hardenhuish School said they "commend" the bravery of the young people who came forward, adding: "The safety and wellbeing of our pupils is, and always will be, our highest priority." They confirmed safeguarding arrangements and recruitment processes follow government guidance, adding: "We continue to work closely with Wiltshire Council and other safeguarding partners to ensure that the highest standards of safeguarding are maintained across the school."
James was ordered to surrender her passport and placed on an electronic tag ahead of being taken into custody on Monday to await sentencing.
