**Teacher Cleared of Multiple Charges in Case Involving Teenage Boy, Jury Deadlocks on Others**
A 54-year-old teacher from Barry has been cleared of several serious charges this week after a lengthy trial at Cardiff Crown Court, but uncertainty remains after jurors failed to agree on the remaining accusations. The teacher, Jonathan Coombs, a performing arts instructor at Pencoedtre High School, was accused of pressuring a teenage boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, into a sexual relationship. While Coombs has been acquitted on five of the charges, legal proceedings surrounding two other counts are now in limbo.
The trial has drawn significant attention in South Wales, given Coombs’ standing as not only a schoolteacher but also the director of a well-known amateur dramatics group. During the proceedings, he denied all allegations, facing a total of seven counts—each alleging sexual activity with a minor whilst in a position of trust. The reportedly “inappropriate” relationship at the centre of the case included claims of sexual intercourse and oral sex, allegations Coombs has rejected since the outset.
After several days of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on five of the counts. However, when it came to the two remaining charges, the jury could not reach a consensus despite extended discussions. Eventually, the foreperson delivered a note to the presiding judge, Eugene Egan, conveying that further deliberations would not resolve the deadlock, regardless of additional time.
Following this development, Judge Egan formally discharged the jury from their responsibilities, offering thanks for their service during what he acknowledged as a challenging and sensitive case. As the court proceedings paused, attention turned to the next steps. Prosecutor Roger Griffiths requested a seven-day adjournment to consider whether the Crown Prosecution Service would seek a retrial on the two unresolved counts.
Judge Egan granted this request, scheduling the case to return to court the following Friday. In the meantime, Mr Coombs, who has remained in custody for the duration of the trial, will continue to be held pending the prosecutor’s decision and any subsequent legal action.
Throughout the hearing, the prosecution and defence locked horns over the central question of whether any sexual activity, let alone coercion or impropriety, had actually taken place. “Mr Coombs denies any sexual impropriety with the boy whatsoever,” Mr Griffiths reminded the jury. He underscored that their verdict hinged entirely on this crucial, disputed point.
This verdict has left the community and those involved with the case in a state of waiting, as both facts and allegations remain partly unresolved. Legal observers have commented that such outcomes, where a jury cannot agree, are rare but highlight the complexity and emotional intensity that often accompany cases involving alleged sexual offences and positions of trust.
As the legal process advances, Coombs’ professional and personal future hangs in the balance. The partial acquittal does bring some resolution for the parties involved, yet the absence of verdicts on the remaining charges means that closure—for both the defendant and the complainant—remains elusive for now.
The case also opens a wider conversation about the responsibilities and vulnerabilities inherent in teaching positions, especially those involving close extracurricular mentorship. Schools and theatre groups alike may revisit their safeguarding protocols as a reflection of the public scrutiny that such trials inevitably bring.
The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to announce its decision in the coming days. Should they pursue a retrial, the matter will once again return to Cardiff Crown Court, prolonging this already difficult legal chapter for all participants.