A British gym teacher is standing trial at Winchester Crown Court, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16‑year‑old student — and the disturbing reason behind a cryptic nickname she gave him has just been revealed in court.
The Allegations
Bronwen James, 30, from Chippenham, Wiltshire, has been charged with four counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. She has denied all charges.
According to the prosecution, the alleged relationship began while James was teaching at Bitterne Park School in Southampton. She reportedly allowed students to use their phones in class, and the teenage boy asked to add her on Snapchat. While she initially refused, she eventually gave in — and before long, their messages “became flirtatious.”
The “Number 8” Nickname
Perhaps the most chilling detail to emerge in court is the nickname James allegedly used for the student in her phone contacts. Prosecutor Edward Culver claimed she saved the boy as “Number 8” — and the reason is deeply disturbing.
It was suggested in court that the nickname was a “cover” — and that he was “the eighth man or boy she had slept with.”
The First Encounter
The student, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told police in a video interview that the first time they had sex, they were alone at James’s home watching Wimbledon. According to the prosecution: “They began watching TV, before kissing and touching each other. She took her clothes off and then he took his clothes off.”
A “Sexually Charged” Relationship
The court heard that James would organize their meetings on Snapchat, picking him up so they could kiss in her car. She allegedly told him she “loved him” and “wanted to move away” with him. The relationship reportedly involved unprotected sex on multiple occasions — allegedly four times in total — and they exchanged messages “daily.”
“I Thought It Was Great”
The boy admitted to the court that he was “groomed” by James, though he admitted that at the time, he thought it was “great.” The case reportedly came to light after another student showed a teacher messages exchanged between James and the victim.
James’s Defense
When interviewed under caution, James gave a prepared statement denying any sexual relationship with the pupil. She claimed she had received messages from an unknown number — which turned out to be the boy — and suggested he was “being put up” to make the allegations by another student.
Prosecution’s Argument
Prosecutor Culver told the jury that the central issue is whether the alleged encounters happened as described. He argued that, whatever her motives, James acted “not only in an unprofessional and overfamiliar way, but failed to recognize any boundaries, exploiting her position to engage in sexual activity with one of her young students.”
What’s Next?
The trial continues at Winchester Crown Court. For now, the disturbing details of the “Number 8” nickname and the alleged Wimbledon encounter have left many shaken — and the case has sparked yet another difficult conversation about the abuse of power in schools.
