DONNA BRANT, WINDSOR TEACHING ASSISTANT, SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL BEHAVIOR WITH TEENAGER

In March 2016, Donna Brant, a 37-year-old teaching assistant from Windsor, appeared in court after admitting to engaging in inappropriate conduct with a male teenager. Brant, who was employed at The Windsor Boys’ School, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual activity with a boy aged between 13 and 17, related to explicit text exchanges that took place in 2015.

At Reading Crown Court, the prosecution revealed that Brant exchanged a significant number of messages—upwards of 2,500—over a three-week period, during which she reportedly ‘enjoyed the attention’ from the teenager. The communication continued until a family member of the boy, concerned about a change in his behavior, accessed his phone and discovered some of the messages.

Prosecutor Rebecca Austin explained that the messages ‘became very explicit very quickly’, and included references to potential criminal consequences. She stated, “Jokingly or otherwise, she [Brant] made reference to the fact that if they [her employer] found out, she would go to prison.” She added that Brant had told the teen she would perform a sex act on him if he told her he loved her.

Although the messages were initiated by the teenager, the court was told that Brant encouraged them because she ‘enjoyed the attention’. The discussion between them also involved the girl requesting proof that the boy was masturbating, which he sent via Snapchat. Additionally, the court noted that Brant sent the boy a picture of a dildo after their conversation shifted to discussing sex toys in her possession.

Defending Brant, solicitor Ed Butler acknowledged her ‘enjoyment of the attention,’ but argued that the messages ‘could have given nobody sexual arousal.’ He emphasized that Brant had already suffered significant personal consequences, saying, “It really is impossible to overstate the extent to which she has already suffered for this very serious, but not sinister lapse of judgment.” Mr. Butler also explained that at the time of the incident, Brant was living temporarily at her parents’ house while her own residence was undergoing renovations, and her mother was battling cancer. He urged the court to understand the difficult circumstances she faced.

Judge Alexia Durran sentenced Brant to an 18-month community order, which includes a 15-day rehabilitation requirement and 180 hours of unpaid work. Brant was also ordered to pay £85 in costs, and an application was made to place her on the sex offenders register. The judge noted that Brant admitted to sending flirtatious, joking messages but denied deriving any sexual gratification from them. She also highlighted that the victim has felt ‘out of place and paranoid’ since the incident.