Teacher charged with sexually abusing boy

A teacher is accused of sexually abusing a boy. Jonathan Coombs, a head of year and drama 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.

Coombs, 54, of Clos Celyn in Barry, was suspended from his school role immediately after his arrest. He is due to go on trial in March at Cardiff Crown Court. The alleged abuse involved sexual touching on multiple dates, according to the charges.

The mixed school on Merthyr Dyfan Road, which has around 993 pupils, and Vale of Glamorgan Council issued a joint statement to WalesOnline: "The council and Pencoedtre High School are aware that a member of school staff appeared in court earlier this year and was charged with a number of very serious offences. As is standard under the school’s safeguarding procedures the member of staff was suspended immediately after their arrest by South Wales Police and has not worked at the school since. All schools in the Vale of Glamorgan have robust safeguarding procedures in place to protect pupils and the wider school community, and these have been followed throughout."

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