PE teacher ‘exploited position’ to have sexual relations with three students

A “flirty” former PE teacher who “exploited her position” has been convicted of having sexual relationships with three of her students.

Bronwen James, 30, was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old schoolboy at Bitterne Park School in Southampton after a trial at Winchester Crown Court which concluded on Thursday.

It can now be reported that the former teacher also admitted a string of similar charges in relation to two schoolgirls aged 13 and 14.

James first abused her position by engaging in sexual communications with a 13-year-old girl at Bitterne Park School before the offending progressed to a full sexual relationship when she was 14.

The former teacher went on to flirt with the 16-year-old boy 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, the court heard.

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.

James subsequently moved to a different school in Wiltshire where she engaged in a sexual relationship with the other 14-year-old girl.

After being arrested in August 2023, James went on to commit further offences against one of the students while on bail, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has revealed.

James showed no emotion and could be seen looking down as the verdicts were returned.

Edward Culver, prosecuting, told the trial the school was made aware of the incident with the 16-year-old boy 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.

Bronwen James has been found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of three counts of sexual activity with a 16-year-old school pupil (Crown Prosecution Service/PA)

PA Media

He said: “I always called her ‘Miss’, I don’t know why, I think it was her little fantasy or something.”

After trial, James was convicted of three counts of sexual activity relating to the 16-year-old boy, and not guilty of one count, after 12 hours of jury deliberation.

She also admitted 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.

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 reappear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday to find out the date of her sentencing and will be remanded into custody.