A Welsh teacher who also directed an amateur dramatics group allegedly coerced a teenage boy into a sexual relationship, and called the schoolboy his “gay guru”, a court has heard.
The accused reportedly warned the boy to erase any explicit texts between them or face severe consequences, indicating both of their “lives would be ruined”.
Jonathan Coombs, 54, who teaches performing arts at Pencoedtre High School in Barry, stands accused of engaging in an “inappropriate” relationship with the teenager, extending gifts such as cash, a teddy bear, and perfume. The purported relationship is claimed to have included sexual intercourse and oral sex.
On Tuesday, April 29, Cardiff Crown Court listened to evidence that the defendant had openly boasted about his involvement with the young person, uttering: “I could lose my job or everything because of this but I don’t care, me and (the boy) slept together.”
Coombs, with an address at Clos Celyn, Barry, is facing seven charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor while occupying a position of trust, reports Wales Online.
Prosecutor Roger Griffiths, presenting the case to jurors, declared: “(Coombs) denies any sexual impropriety with (the boy) whatsoever. The issue for you in this case is did this happen.”
The trial further delved into exchanges where Coombs referred to himself as the boy’s “gay guru” and initiated kisses. These instances occurred multiple times, eventually prompting the boy to confide to police that the situation “got weirder and weirder” and he felt ensnared.
The boy said the kissing between them didn’t stop and he was trying to find his way out of the situation but couldn’t.
Coombs took the boy to a play in Cardiff, followed by drinks at a gay bar, where the alleged victim got drunk.
It’s alleged that later the same evening, Coombs brought him home and bluntly inquired, “Are you going to f*** me?”
The boy described being given “poppers” which made his head spin. He claims that when Coombs tried to sleep with him, he shrieked in agony and collapsed to the ground.
The courtroom listened to evidence claiming Coombs manipulated the teenager, threatening to end his own life if the boy distanced himself.
Another disturbing revelation had the boy claim Coombs threw a drink over him, shattering the glass. The boy testified that Coombs also swung a punch at him and demanded the return of all gifts he’d purchased.
After the alleged relationship came to light, the boy said he was told by Coombs to delete all the messages between them on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp.
Additionally, Coombs is accused of warning the boy: “If I get into trouble, you could get in trouble and it will ruin our lives.”
Eventually, the alleged victim reached out to the authorities and a video statement was recorded, which was then presented in court.
During the interview with the police, the boy expressed his regret, remarking: “Terrible, when I look back now, I can’t believe it’s something that happened. I’ve never thought it would be like me. I never thought for me I would have gone for anything like that. Now I think ‘how did that situation come?'”
Mr Griffiths informed the court that after Coombs was taken into custody, the police recovered numerous messages sent to the boy, which contained explicit content and demands for sexual acts.
The trial continues.
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