Former PE teacher Bronwen James has been found guilty of sexually abusing a 16-year-old pupil after telling jurors he may have invented the allegations to appear impressive in front of his friends.
James, 30, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, was convicted at Winchester Crown Court of three counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. She had denied having sex with the boy or exchanging flirtatious messages with him. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/10/former-pe-teacher-bronwen-james-faces-lengthy-jail-term-sexually-abusing-pupils-wiltshire-hampshire))
The jury heard that James taught physical education at Bitterne Park School in Southampton when she allegedly began communicating with the pupil on Snapchat. Prosecutors said the pair kissed in her car before going to her home, where they had sex.
Edward Culver, prosecuting, told the court that messages between the pair suggested “a sexually charged relationship”. He said the boy had been referred to as “number 8” in the exchanges, apparently as a disguise.
James suggested during her evidence that the boy had made up the claims “to look cool in front of his mates” and to boast that he was in a relationship with a teacher. She denied that anything sexual had taken place.
The court was told that the school became aware of the allegations after another pupil showed a teacher messages apparently sent between James and the boy. The complainant later told police that he had been groomed.
James had already admitted offences involving two teenage girls at schools in Hampshire and Wiltshire. The offences included sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child and making an indecent photograph of a child; the girls were aged 13 and 14 at the time. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/10/former-pe-teacher-bronwen-james-faces-lengthy-jail-term-sexually-abusing-pupils-wiltshire-hampshire))
The Crown Prosecution Service described the case as a “sustained pattern of predatory behaviour against children in her care”. Bethany Adams, for the CPS, said James had exploited her authority to isolate pupils and normalise the abuse.
James also received a warning early in her teaching career after giving her personal mobile number to a pupil while working at Seaford College in West Sussex, the court heard.
Writing on social media in 2020, James said: “The impact a teacher can have on a student’s life is magnificent, that’s why we do it.”
Judge James Bromige ordered reports to be prepared before sentencing, so the court can assess the risk James poses. She is facing a lengthy prison sentence.
