Johnathan Morgan, 35, was found guilty of causing a child to watch sexual acts and inciting sexual activity after contacting the teenage girl via his school email address
A primary school teacher sent a teenage girl videos pleasuring himself in the bath and on the sofa. But Johnathan Morgan claimed he had sent them to her “by mistake.
The 35-year-old was found guilty of inciting a teenager to to engage in sexual activity and to watch a sexual activity. Cardiff Crown Court heard he had “taken a shine” to the girl despite knowing it was inappropriate given her age and his position as a qualified teacher at a Cardiff school.
Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett explained how the defendant started messaging the girl through email using his school address in 2023. The pair subsequently connected on social media, where Morgan made boastful claims about knowing celebrities, famous snooker players including Ronnie O’Sullivan whom he claimed as a friend, and footballers.
He also made grandiose claims about being in a band, appearing on the news, being a renowned runner in America, and having connections to Newport County AFC, reports Wales Online.
Mr Bennett revealed how he began pressuring her to send photographs of herself. In response, she used Snapchat’s photo-editing feature to send a bikini image that wasn’t actually of her in an attempt to appease him, the court was told.
Upon discovering the photos weren’t genuine, he intensified his demands for real pictures, Mr Bennett explained,. He said the girl eventually succumbed after persistent harassment and demands for more.
Mr Bennett detailed how Morgan had sent her inappropriate photos of himself, including explicit images which he later claimed were sent by mistake. The defendant shared photos and videos of himself performing sexual acts in the bath and on the sofa.
Morgan, from Conway Road, Newport, was convicted of two counts of causing a child aged 13 to 17 years old to watch a sexual act and a count of causing/inciting sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17 years old.
However, the defendant was acquitted of sexual assault and causing a female aged 13 or over to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
Judge Richard Kember stated that he would not sentence Morgan until a pre-sentence report had been completed. The defendant was granted bail until his sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on February 26.