Latest news with #JonathanCoombs
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teacher's 'sick nickname he told pupil before plying him with gifts and pressuring him into sex'
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." Nurse's shocking admission after husband walks in on her and naked stepson, 15, 'having sex' 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.
South Wales Argus
30-04-2025
- South Wales Argus
Barry teacher ‘had sexual relationship with teenage boy'
Jonathan Coombs, 54, allegedly told the youngster he was his "gay guru" – taking him to gay bars and getting him drunk. A jury was told that when the teenager tried to break off their fling, the defendant allegedly threatened suicide – leaving the boy "trapped". Coombs, who was also director of an amateur dramatics group, met his alleged victim after watching him perform at a show in Cardiff. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said that after going to a gay bar together and the complainant getting "drunk", Coombs then took him back to his house and attempted to have sex with him. He added that Coombs, a teacher at Pencoedtre Comprehensive in Barry boasted about the relationship. The defendant allegedly said: "I could lose my job or everything because of this but I don't care, we slept together.' After their alleged relationship was discovered, Coombs instructed the boy to delete all the messages between them on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp. He was also said to have told him: "If I get into trouble, you could get in trouble and it will ruin our lives." Cardiff Crown Court heard Coombs would buy tickets to see shows together and they would go together and they performed sex acts on each other in side streets or in the car. In his interview with police, the boy said: "He said If anyone did find out we'd both be in trouble and when I tried to end it he said, I never wanted to fall in love with you, I didn't mean for it to happen." Coombs, of Barry, denies seven counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. The trial continues.
Wales Online
30-04-2025
- Wales Online
Teacher pressured teen into sexual relationship, court told
Teacher pressured teen into sexual relationship, court told Jonathan Coombs, 54, denies seven counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust (Image: None ) A teacher and a director of an amateur dramatics group pressured a teenage boy into having a sexual relationship, a court has heard. 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". Jonathan Coombs, 54, a performing arts teacher at Pencoedtre High School, in Barry, was accused of conducting an "inappropriate" relationship with the boy, and would give him gifts including money, a teddy bear and aftershave. The relationship is alleged to have involved sexual intercourse and oral sex. A trial at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the defendant bragged about the relationship to people, and said: "I could lose my job or everything because of this but I don't care, me and (the boy) slept together". For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. Coombs, of Clos Celyn, Barry, denies seven counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust. Opening the case to the jury, prosecutor Roger Griffiths said: "(Coombs) denies any sexual impropriety with (the boy) whatsoever. The issue for you in this case is did this happen." The court heard Coombs would tell the boy he was his "gay guru" and leaned in to kiss him. This happened on a number of occasions, and the boy later told police that things "got weirder and weirder" and he "felt he was in a trap". Article continues below 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 see a theatrical production in Cardiff and went to a gay bar, where the alleged victim got drunk. Later that night, it is claimed the defendant took the boy back to his home and asked him "Are you going to f*** me?". The boy said he was given "poppers" which made him feel lightheaded. The boy said the defendant later attempted to have sex with him, but the boy screamed in pain and fell to the floor. The court heard Coombs pressured the teenager by threatening to take his own life if the boy stopped contact. The boy also described an incident where he alleged Coombs threw his drink over him and the glass smashed. He said the defendant also attempted to punch him, and told him to give him back all the gifts he had bought him. 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. He was also said to have told the boy: "If I get into trouble, you could get in trouble and it will ruin our lives." The alleged victim later contacted the police and a video interview was carried out, and subsequently played to the court. When asked by the interviewing officer how he felt about the relationship, the boy said: "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 told the court that following Coombs arrest, officers were able to retrieve some of the messages sent to the boy which included graphic descriptions of what he wanted to do to the boy and requests for sexual favours. The trial continues. Article continues below
