A former teacher has been convicted after admitting to engaging in sexual activity with a 16-year-old pupil while working at a school in Southampton, England.
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Bronwen James, 30, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, September 9, after being found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with the teenage pupil during her time at Bitterne Park School in Southampton, Hampshire.
The court heard that James initially developed a flirtatious relationship with the student in the classroom before the pair began communicating through Snapchat.
According to evidence presented during the proceedings, their relationship later moved beyond social media. James reportedly drove the teenager to Weston Shore in Southampton, where the two kissed inside her car.
The teenager later went to James’ home, where they watched television before going into her bedroom, where they had sex.
James had previously pleaded guilty to several offences involving other pupils. These included four counts of engaging in sexual activity and one count of sexual communication with another schoolgirl.
She also admitted two charges of sexual activity, one count of sexual communication and making an indecent photograph of a child involving a second schoolgirl.
During the trial, prosecutor Edward Culver told the court that another student had shown a teacher text messages that James and the teenage boy had allegedly exchanged.
He told the trial: “They suggested a s£xually-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 further described James’ conduct, saying: “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.”
The court also heard about the teenager’s account during a police interview. He said he had been “groomed” by James.
He claimed she would “slip him vapes” in his coursework and said she wanted him to call her “miss” when they were alone.
Bethany Adams, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “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.”
James has been remanded in custody and is expected to return to Winchester Crown Court on Monday, when a date for her sentencing will be determined