Sobbing woman jailed for sex with boy, 12
A WOMAN who groomed a boy of 12 before having sex with him wept yesterday as she was jailed for five-and-ahalf years.
Jodie Delray, 35, who also sexually assaulted the youngster, met for several “clandestine trysts,” Norwich Crown Court was told.
Delray, of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, denied sexual assault and sexual activity with a child but was found guilty after a trial.
Judge Anthony Bate told the court that boys as young as Delray’s victim are often mentally ill-equipped to cope with a sexual experience.
William Carter, prosecuting, said there was an element of grooming in her behaviour. He also said that an aggravating feature of the abuse was the large age gap between her and the victim.
Vulnerable
Michael Clare, defending, said the risk of Delray reoffending when she is freed is low.
He said: “She feels she has been let down in the way she presented herself.”
The court heard that Delray is a vulnerable person and was told that she had numerous health problems, including chronic fatigue syndrome. “Custody will be all the more punishment for her,” explained Mr Clare.
“She is someone who is going to find prison extremely difficult.”
Her family and friends had written a number of testimonials about Delray to highlight her “many qualities,” Judge Bate said.
But he added: “I can do nothing in this case other than my public duty.
“Full sex began to occur initiated by you. These clandestine sex trysts continued for some time.”
As well as being jailed on Wednesday, she was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.