Teenage boy denies sexual relationship with teacher a 'malicious rumour'

A TEACHER and director of an amateur dramatics group pressured a teenage boy into having a sexual relationship, a court has heard.

- PHILIP DEWEY

Yesterday, the teenager denied it was a “malicious rumour”.

When asked why he initially told police there had been no sexual contact between them, he said: “I was embarrassed.”

Jonathan Coombs, 54, a performing arts teacher at Pencoedtre High School in Barry, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. He is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with the boy and of engaging in sexual intercourse with him.

A trial at Cardiff Crown Court previously heard the defendant is accused of conducting an “inappropriate” relationship with the boy and would give him gifts including money, a teddy bear and aftershave.

He is alleged to have told the boy to delete sexual messages between them or he would get into trouble and their “lives would be ruined.”