Woman who had sex with 14-year-old boy three times spared prison sentence
By Rob Kennedy & Anna Savva - The Daily Star
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A woman had sex with a schoolboy, 14, she met online three times before calling halt to their relationship.
Sophie Johnson, 22, , of Normanton Terrace, Elswick, Newcastle, was spared a jail sentence after a court found she had a sex with the boy, who has not been named for legal reasons, within the space of a few days.
She was said to have carried out the relationship despite the fact she was warned off pursuing a relationship and when it came to light she was said to have lost her job.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Johnson was immature for her age and failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the teen was over 16, but as soon as she found out she stopped the relationship.
This was despite the fact they met online and had swapped messages before meeting, ChronicleLive report.
Gavin Doig, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution case is Miss Johnson did not reasonably believe he was 16 or over and took no steps to find out his age.
"The basis of plea is when she found out his age she stopped the sexual contact, which is accepted.
"She ignored the warnings of others but when she found out his age, she desisted."
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Mr Doig said there appears to have been "genuine affection" between them and the sexual activity only happened over a short period of time.
The boy did not provide a victim impact statement and while he cooperated with the prosecution, he did not wish to provide any further information, the court heard.
Johnson, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to a three year community order and must sign the sex offenders register for five years.
Sentencing her, Judge Sarah Mallett said: "This was a relationship of mutual affection, there was no pressure applied or grooming of any sort.
"These proceedings have obviously had a significant effect on you and you have been the victim of a serious offence yourself during that time.
"You have had to leave your home and family and lost your job as a result of this offending and I accept you are remorseful."
The judge said there are issues about Johnson's future employment in "what was your chosen field".
She added: "You have experienced significant punishment in one way or another as a result of the offences.
"That's not to put aside the effect of offences like this on their victim but there is no victim personal statement and I understand he has tried to make further contact with you.
"I hope there will be no long term harmful effects on the boy."
Penny Hall, defending, said Johnson "has difficulties" and added: "She did not do enough but when she found out about the age, she stopped any sexual contact.
"There was mutual genuine affection and there was no grooming or anything of that sort.
"The proceedings have affected her for the period of time they have been hanging over her.
"She's a young lady who presents with a maturity level much younger than her age and she has her own vulnerabilities.
"She's remorseful and embarrassed and your honour can be confident that the court will not see her again.
"She's lost her career, had to leave her home area where her family are and her mental health has deteriorated and this has been hanging over her for a lengthy period of time."
