A British gym instructor is facing serious allegations after prosecutors claimed she had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student.
Bronwen James, 30, appeared in court this week over allegations involving the teenage boy. Prosecutors told the trial that James allegedly developed a “flirtatious” relationship with the student before the pair communicated privately on Snapchat.
And somehow, Wimbledon was allegedly part of the story.
According to prosecutors, James had sexual contact with the student while they were watching the tennis tournament. She also allegedly insisted that the teenager call her “Miss.”
That detail alone makes this story sound like someone mixed up a school drama with a very serious courtroom case.
The student also claims that the accused perv liked him to call her “Miss” when they were alone together, according to Crown Prosecution Service arguments made in Winchester Town Court.
The CPS claims the Wiltshire educator engaged in a “sexually charged relationship” with the youngster, declaring she “loved him” and wanted to “move away” together.
The alleged abuse unfolded while James was working as a physical education teacher at Bitterne Park School in Southampton, England, the Sun reported.
The Wimbledon detail adds an especially strange layer to the allegations. Millions of people watch tennis every year. Most simply argue about who will win and complain about the price of strawberries.
This case, however, involves allegations that are far more serious.
James routinely allowed students to use mobile phones during lessons, which is when the boy first begged for her Snapchat handle — a boundary-crossing request she at first rejected, Prosecutor Edward Culver said.
“She initially refused his attempts to add her on Snapchat but then chose to do so,” 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,” the prosecutors said.
James worked as a gym instructor, meaning she was in a position of trust around young people. Teachers and instructors are expected to maintain clear boundaries with students. According to prosecutors, those boundaries were allegedly ignored.
Wimbledon tennis was on at the time of the assaults, and at James’ house “they began watching TV, before kissing and touching each other.”
“She took her clothes off and then he took his clothes off,” Culver explained.
They allegedly proceeded to have unprotected sex.
The alleged victim said that he thought the relationship was “good” at first and now realizes that James “groomed” him.
As for Wimbledon, it probably did not expect to become part of a courtroom discussion when the tournament began.
