Wiltshire teacher sexually abused pupils at multiple schools

A teacher has been found guilty of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy after previously admitting offences against two teenage girls.

Former PE teacher Bronwen James, 30, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, previously admitted nine sexual offences against two teenage girls – one a pupil at Bitterne Park School in Southampton and the other at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.

She was convicted earlier at Winchester Crown Court of three counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old boy who also attended Bitterne Park School.

During the trial the prosecution said James “craved” attention and “abused the trust put in her” as a teacher.

The jury found James guilty of the three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust by a majority of 11 to one and acquitted her of a fourth charge.

James showed no emotion as the verdict was read out and stood looking at the floor as the jury left the courtroom.

She was told by the judge she must surrender her passport and would be monitored with an electronic tag until Monday, when she will be taken to prison ahead of her sentencing.

During the five-day trial, prosecutors said James had entered into a “flirty” relationship with the pupil and they had communicated via Snapchat before they had sex at her house “three or four” times.

The jury also heard that James told the boy she loved him and wanted him to move away with her.

Giving evidence in court, the teenager said: “I thought she cared about me.”

“I thought this was great, any teenage boy’s dream, but 1789050069 I think it was wrong. At the time I wasn’t thinking that.”

James denied all charges, alleging that the boy had made them up to “look cool”.

The nine offences against two teenage girls 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.

“Bronwen James was trusted to educate and protect children – instead, she used that trust to groom and sexually abuse three students,” said senior crown prosecutor Bethany Adams.

“James manipulated her victims with calculated precision, exploiting her position of authority to isolate them and normalise the abuse,” she added.

“This was not a lapse in judgement; it was a sustained pattern of predatory behaviour against children in her care.”