Teacher denies sexual relationship with teen

A 54-year-old teacher has denied having a sexual relationship with a teenage boy.

Secondary school drama teacher Jonathon Coombs is accused of emotionally blackmailing the teenager and threatening to kill himself if their relationship ended

Giving evidence at a trial at Cardiff Crown Court, Mr Coombs, from Barry, admitted buying alcohol for the boy but said he did not send him inappropriate messages.

Mr Coombs denies seven counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.

Mr Coombs was a drama teacher at Pencoedtre Comprehensive and involved in various drama groups at the time of the alleged sexual offences, which took place between November 2022 and April 2023.

Rosamund Rutter, defence barrister, asked Mr Coombs if he had sent any "flirty or inappropriate" messages to the teenage boy, which he replied, "absolutely not".

He was then asked if he had sent any photos of himself topless or of his genitals, to which he replied "never".

The defendant also denied asking the boy to refer to him as his "gay guru" and said he had explained what the terms "gay icon" and "gay guru" meant.

But Mr Coombs admitted he had purchased alcohol for the boy on one occasion when they attended a theatre production in Cardiff.

The court heard it was after this show the boy claimed he and Mr Coombs went back to the defendant's home and engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sex.

Giving evidence on Friday, the defendant denied performing oral sex on the boy and denied the boy performed oral sex on him.

Questions were also put to the defendant about him having sexual intercourse with the boy, which Mr Coombs denied.

The defendant also denied giving the boy poppers, a muscle-relaxing drug, "or anything that made him light-headed".

Upon being accused by a friend of sleeping with the boy, the defendant told the court he was "really shocked".

The teenager previously told Cardiff Crown Court he felt trapped by Mr Coombs, and said Mr Coombs told him if anyone found out about their relationship it would "ruin both of their lives".

Concluding the questioning, Ms Rutter asked Mr Coombs if he told the boy to delete messages, which he denied.

Ms Rutter added: "Did you tell him he was going to get into trouble or make him fear he was going to get into trouble?". Coombs said: "No I did not".

The trial continues.