A former physical education teacher, Bronwen James, has been convicted of sexually abusing three pupils, including offenses against two girls to which she had previously admitted and new convictions for offenses against a boy. James, 30, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, had earlier pleaded guilty to nine sexual offenses involving two teenage girls who were pupils at Bitterne Park School in Southampton and Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.
Winchester Crown Court found James guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old boy, also a student at Bitterne Park School. During the trial, the prosecution argued that James exhibited a craving for attention and exploited the trust placed in her as an educator. The jury reached a majority verdict of 11 to one, convicting her on these three charges, while acquitting her on a fourth.
James showed no visible reaction to the verdict and is being held on electronic monitoring until her sentencing, which is scheduled for Monday, when she will be taken to prison. The trial, which lasted five days, heard that James engaged in a “flirty” relationship with the boy, communicating via Snapchat. The court was told they had sexual encounters at her home on three to four occasions. The teenage boy testified that at the time he believed she cared about him, describing it as a “teenage boy’s dream,” but now recognizes the actions as wrong.
James had denied all charges, suggesting the boy fabricated the accusations to gain attention. She was employed at multiple schools, leading to the charges involving pupils from different educational institutions.