A 30-year-old physical education teacher in England went on trial this week accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student she taught, according to prosecutors at Winchester Town Court.
Bronwen James, who worked as a PE teacher at a secondary school in Southampton, is accused by the Crown Prosecution Service of engaging in what prosecutors described as a “sexually charged relationship” with the teenage boy. Prosecutors allege the relationship began after the student asked to add her on Snapchat during a lesson in which students were permitted to use mobile phones.
“She initially refused his attempts to add her on Snapchat but then chose to do so,” prosecutor Edward Culver told the court. “They started to message each other. The messages became flirtatious. The two met up and went to Weston Shore. They kissed in the car.”
According to Culver, the alleged relationship escalated at James’s home while the two were watching Wimbledon tennis coverage on television. “They began watching TV, before kissing and touching each other,” Culver said, adding, “She took her clothes off and then he took his clothes off.” Prosecutors allege the pair then had unprotected sex.
The student reportedly told investigators he wanted James to call him “Miss” when the two were alone together, and prosecutors say James told him she “loved him” and wanted to “move away” with him. The student has said he initially believed the relationship was “good” but has since come to view it as grooming.
James has denied the allegations and gave a prepared statement to the court. As a defendant on trial, she is presumed innocent unless and until a jury finds otherwise.
The jury originally seated for the case was discharged on Wednesday, delaying proceedings. A new jury is expected to be sworn in Thursday, at which point the trial is set to continue at Winchester Town Court.
Source: New York Post
