Former PE teacher appears in court charged with sexual offences against children
She is charged with six offences of sexual activity with a child, relating to girls under the age of 16, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act.
James is also accused of two counts of sexual communication with a child and one count of making an indecent photograph of a child, namely a Category C – the least serious category – first generation image.
The former teacher is also charged with four counts of sexual activity with a boy, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Wiltshire Police previously confirmed that James taught PE at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham and Bitterne Park School in Southampton.
Stephen Harrison, chair of the bench, told James that her case would be heard next at Salisbury Crown Court on August 7.
He said: 'By virtue of three of these offences being indictable only, which means they can only be heard in the crown court, we will be sending them to the crown court.
'The other 10 offences are associated offences and therefore will be included in the hearing to be heard in front of the crown court.
'The next phase is to attend for a plea and trial preparation hearing which is going to take place at Salisbury Crown Court on August 7.
'In between now and August 7, you are granted bail with conditions.
'If you don't turn up to court at that appointed date and time, you may be committing an offence.
'You are not to have direct or indirect contact with the three complainants in this matter.
'You are not to have any unsupervised contact with any child or young person under the age of 16.'
Mr Harrison asked James to confirm that she understood what he had said and to repeat the bail conditions to the court, which she did.
The judge also stressed: 'The identities of all complainants for these matters is protected under law. Failure to comply is a criminal offence.'
During the short hearing, James, wearing a cream two-piece outfit, also spoke to confirm her name, date of birth and address.
She was not asked to enter any pleas to the charges against her.
Siobhan Oxley appeared for the prosecution during the hearing, while Joshua Clements represented James.
James will next appear before Salisbury Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on August 7.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
My brain FLIPPED in my skull as my head smashed against the road when a drunk driver ploughed into me then ran off
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What was just a moment in the drunk-driver's life became a three-year battle to save James' through 10 gruelling surgeries. 9 James Bradley was in a coma for three weeks and had to have half his skull removed Credit: James Bradley 9 James is now writing a book to inspire others who suffer life-altering accidents Credit: James Bradley 9 He was struck down in a brutal hit-and-run in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in front of friends Credit: James Bradley James, who was visiting from Dubai at the time of the brutal hit-and-run on Bushey High Street, Hertfordshire, on Boxing Day 2021, had to completely relearn how to read, write, speak and walk in the wake of his ordeal. The high-flying project manager, now 37, tells Sun Health: 'I was just crossing the road and the guy hit me out of nowhere. I was knocked completely unconscious. 'He slung me from the right-hand side. I smacked my arm against the windscreen and smashed my head against the floor. 'I landed right in the middle of the road, and the bus nearly ran me over as well.' After stopping down the road just moments after hitting James, then 34, the driver fled the scene - leaving his innocent victim helpless on the tarmac. He says: 'My friends saw me in the middle of the road, then noticed the driver stop and get out of the car. 'He started swearing because he'd seen me on the ground. 'I believe he wiped down the steering wheel, then took his possessions and just ran off. 'There was a pub next door and he ran through the garden and jumped over the fence.' James says there were drugs and alcohol in the vehicle, and the car didn't even belong to him. I almost died after freak surgery accident AND bus crash, now I've won £65k in lottery win As James' panic-stricken pals waited for an ambulance to arrive, two heroic nurses, who were held up in the police cordon, rushed over to help. He says: 'Jodie Bannister and Mary Walsh saw me lying in the road and raced over. 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'Rebecca came out, almost crying, and told James, 'We never get to see the success stories, we never find out what happens when people leave here'. 'She turned around to James and told him how pleased she was to see him because he was the sickest person on the ward. 'I think that was the moment when it really hit home for James. 'I think until then, the penny hadn't dropped. In that moment, he realised he'd had a second lease of life.' 'Life is so precious' James, who once worked for Exxon Mobil, one of the biggest oil and gas companies in the world, is now writing a book. He hopes The Will To Survive will inspire others who have experienced life-changing injuries. But writing has come with its challenges. James says he often gets tired after looking at a screen for prolonged periods and sometimes the words don't flow as easily. 'I want to be able to help other people who have had similar experiences to me,' he adds. 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The Guardian
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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I loved those kids as if they were mine': Childminder ‘broken' by Fermanagh shooting tragedy
Jenny Bowles also spoke of how the community has been 'broken' by the suspected triple murder and attempted suicide near Maguiresbridge. Vanessa Whyte (45) died along with her children James (14) and 13-year-old Sara. Last night hundreds gathered for a vigil in memory of the three. People wrapped their arms around each other at the event, which was organised by a community group and held at the local primary school that James and Sara once attended. First Minister Michelle O'Neill was among the crowd. Also present was Ms Bowles, who was childminder for James and Sara for eight years from when they were about three months old each. She said the tragedy has left the community shattered. 'Our family — we're just devastated,' she told the Belfast Telegraph. 'James and Sara were just like our own children. We treated them like our own family and they both were very fond of my own two boys, Jordan and Adam. 'James looked to Jordan and Adam as his brothers. They were his role models. 'Vanessa was such a lovely person, very hard-working and a very strong person. 'To describe her, she was just so lovely. James and Sara were great. They loved the outdoors. 'James loved machinery, especially the harvester at this time of the year. Sara loved the animals on the farm. 'They were big into their sports, and I know when we had James at our house he loved the football.' The shooting happened at a house near Maguiresbridge on Wednesday morning. Vanessa and Sara were pronounced dead at the scene. James died a short time later in the South West Acute Hospital from the injuries he sustained. A man remains in a critical condition at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Describing her reaction to the tragedy, Ms Bowles added: 'I just went into complete shock. I couldn't even find the words to tell my husband. We are just heartbroken. 'Sara and James were just part of our family. They loved outdoors, and they would have rather been out helping and working, rather than sitting in, playing with toys. James absolutely loved getting out to help my husband in the workshop and making wee things out there or tidying up. 'They were just an exceptional family. Vanessa was just exceptional in every way, and so were the children. 'To describe the community, I would say... broken. 'James had really wanted to get to Enniskillen Royal Grammar School too, because Jordan and Adam had gone there, and he achieved that.' She also told how James had become an Arsenal supporter, because her own two sons were. Jenny added that the local community has been 'amazing' in the unity they've shown and praised the fact all denominations have been able to 'come together under some tragic circumstances'. Multiple clergy led the large crowds in prayer at the vigil, including Rev Rodney Beacom, a local Presbyterian minister; Passionist priest Brian D'Arcy, and the Church of Ireland's Rev Lindsey Farrell. A two-minute silence was held, with a poem read by the vice chairperson of Maguiresbridge Development Association, Sonya Smith. She recited: 'How do we go on? After the unthinkable happens, how can we carry the burden of knowing? The world can be cruel and dangerous, the future so unpredictable.' Also in attendance at the vigil was the local MP Pat Cullen, former MP Michelle Gildernew, and MLAs Aine Murphy, Jemma Dolan and Deborah Erskine. Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir was also there. Ms Whyte had worked for his department, and had recently been promoted to the most senior government vet within Co Fermanagh. Watch: DUP Leader Gavin Robinson pays respects to mother and children killed in Fermanagh shooting She had also formerly been part of the Maguiresbridge Running Club. Yesterday evening, some of its members remembered her as being 'full of life' and 'very determined'. 'Just for someone so ordinary, so hardworking, the soul of the community and of so many different clubs and in a cross-community capacity — she didn't deserve that,' one member said. Another said that the running club's route often takes them past the family's house, noting that 'it will never be the same' each time they pass it now. Many people stayed after the vigil for hours, queuing to sign the book of condolences that has been set up for members of the public to pay their respects to Ms Whyte and her children. Members of all ages from St Mary's Maguiresbridge Gaelic football club, and Lisbellaw Hurling Club, of which all three shooting victims were 'active and beloved' members, walked together to the vigil from the local GAA pitch. St Mary's described Sara as 'a joy to be around and always had a smile on her face'. The club said that James, who was captain of the under-14 team this year, 'was the heartbeat of our team and he had the confidence to be vocal and show leadership to younger team members'. They said that Ms Whyte 'had a passion for our games that encompassed everything good about the GAA showing dedication, sportsmanship, and camaraderie, and it was clear to see how Vanessa instilled these same values in her children'. James and Sara both attended Enniskillen Royal, and the school announced that it will be open all of next week for any of its students or other young people that need help and support.
