The trial of a former teacher charged with having sex with a student has heard the closing arguments from the prosecution and defence.
Bronwen James, 30, a former PE teacher at Bitterne Park School in Southampton is accused of four charges of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust.
Jurors at Winchester Crown Court today heard the closing statements made by prosecutor Edward Culver and James’ defence, Heather Stangoe.
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Mr Culver said: “There is no mystery in this case, Bronwen James had sex with her student on a number of occasions.
“That’s essential truth to the case the issue for you to determine and it’s reflected in the indictment.”
He stated that the experience for the boy was a “teenage dream” while James was a “PE teacher betraying the trust placed in her for some attention and admiration”.
He added: “Who better than an effectuated teenage boy to make her feel good, to exploit as she did in this case.”
He summed up, saying: “When you take all this evidence together the central truth is so clear, that they were in a relationship of some sort and having sex at her home address.”
Closing for the defence, Ms Stangoe said: “What I have heard, ladies and gentlemen, from my learned friend is a repeated mocking of Bronwen James’ account.
“Ask yourself this why has the prosecution in their closing speech apparently distanced themselves from a witness who they told you at the beginning of the trial you could be sure of.”
Ms Stangoe said that the boy's account of the events “shuffled” during his interviews with police and evidence in court.
She added: “The only place for shuffling is on the dance floor and it is not for when or how things happened.”
She concluded: “If it was a teenage dream, it must be one of those dreams that when you wake up, you forget everything about.”
After the court heard the closing arguments, Judge James Bromige dismissed the jury to deliberate on their verdict.
James, now of Lytham Close, Chippenham, denies four charges of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust. The trial continues.
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