BRIDGEND TEACHER CHRISTOPHER JENKINS SENT INAPPROPRIATE SELFIES TO 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT

In September 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Christopher Jenkins, a 33-year-old teacher from Bridgend, who engaged in inappropriate and predatory behavior towards a 15-year-old female student. Jenkins, who was entrusted with the responsibility of guiding and educating the girl, instead exploited his position of authority to initiate a series of lewd and inappropriate exchanges.

It was revealed that Jenkins began communicating with the teenager via Snapchat, a picture messaging app, during late-night hours. Initially, their conversations appeared to be related to her schoolwork, particularly her homework in his design and technology class. However, the tone of their messages quickly shifted from academic to sexual. Jenkins asked the girl if she would cheat on her boyfriend, complimented her beauty, and expressed concern that her mother would be angry if she found out about their interactions.

As their exchanges continued, Jenkins sent explicit images of himself, including photos of his torso with a towel wrapped around his waist. He then urged her to reciprocate by sending her own selfies, which she did, wearing only a bra and knickers, and including close-up shots of her chest. The girl later told police that she felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety about the attention she was receiving from her teacher. She admitted that she initially found the attention 'exciting,' but her feelings changed as she became worried about classmates discovering their secret and the potential embarrassment that could follow.

The girl also expressed that her schoolwork was negatively impacted by the situation, and she subsequently received lower-than-expected results in her AS Level exams. Her classmates eventually became aware of her interactions with Jenkins after some of his photos were shared among friends and quickly circulated throughout the school community. This led to increased scrutiny and discomfort for the girl, who felt embarrassed and awkward around Jenkins at school.

Colleagues at the school, a comprehensive near Bridgend, reported Jenkins to the police after the girl shared some of his photos with her friends. The police investigation confirmed that Jenkins had sent explicit images, including selfies of himself in just a towel and photos of her in her underwear. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, provided a written statement describing her initial feelings of excitement but also her growing fear and embarrassment as the situation escalated.

During the court proceedings, Jenkins’s defense acknowledged that his career was effectively over due to his actions. Judge Eleri Rees condemned Jenkins for his gross breach of trust, emphasizing that his conduct involved exchanging explicit images with a minor. Although the case did not escalate further, the judge highlighted the significant emotional and psychological damage inflicted on the girl.

As a result, Jenkins was sentenced to 23 weeks in jail, suspended for two years. He is also required to sign the sex offenders register for seven years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order that prohibits any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16. This case underscores the serious consequences of exploiting a position of authority and the importance of safeguarding young students from predatory behavior.