Teaching assistant, 41, jailed for intercourse offences in opposition to schoolboy, 15, in automobile

A teaching assistant has been jailed for having sex with a 15-year-old schoolboy in a car. Sophie Edwards, 41, also exchanged sexual pictures with the teenager and performed sex acts on him.

She also gave him beers, a court heard. The mum-of-four has now been jailed for three years and two months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Staffordshire Police started investigating the case after a tip-off. Alison Whalley, prosecuting, said Edwards and the boy communicated on Snapchat and she sent topless photographs of herself and a video of her using a sex toy. She said: “She performed oral sex on him.

“He described having sex with the defendant. Sexual activity occurred in a car. The boy was still in school at the time. On occasion he would be provided with alcohol by the defendant, three or four beers. There is no suggestion that any party was severely intoxicated during the course of the sexual intercourse.”

The victim’s mum said the impact on him remains profound and lasting, The Sentinel reports. He became overwhelmed with shame. She said: “The fact she worked in a school makes it hard to process as parents. The impact on our son and family will be with us forever.”

Edwards, of Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child.

Ros Scott Bell, mitigating, said Edwards was aware a custodial sentence would be imposed but urged the judge to consider suspending the term. The defence lawyer said: “She is an individual wracked with guilt, not only because of the negative impact on her victim and his family but also because of the affect of her own behaviour on her own children and her own wider family.

“She has four children herself. From her arrest she was estranged from her own family, barring one or two hours a week where she could see her children under supervision.”

She added: “She has lost her job, lost her career. She will no longer be able to work in the sector in which she has hitherto excelled. She is professionally embarrassed. She feels deep humiliation.

“That has had a profound effect on her. She has had this hanging over her. She has recently been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. She wants to be able to give back to society and make amends.

“The effect on her four children would be devastating. She wants to be involved in their upbringing and they are all distraught at the thought of losing their mother again.

“The defendant is of good character. She has never before crossed the threshold of any police station or court. The references all speak highly of her.”

Edwards is now on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life. Judge Graeme Smith said: “I understand the circumstances in which this started. There were difficulties in your own relationship and you were drinking. That is no excuse for what happened.

“It has had a lasting and profound impact on the boy and the family. You are the author of the impact on everyone. There were at some point sexual images shared.”

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