A WOMAN had sex with a schoolboy multiple times while “going through a period of self destruct”, a court heard.

Sophie Hindmarch, then aged 26, and the 14-year-old began swapping messages on Snapchat. General conversation then escalated to the exchange of sexualised images and videos, Carlisle Crown Court was told.

They met at her home to smoke and first had sex after Hindmarch - now 27 - told the boy: “You’ve left your lighter upstairs.” Sexual intercourse occurred around a dozen times in total with one encounter filmed on her mobile phone at the teen’s request.

Police were alerted after the boy admitted what had happened. In a statement, his dad spoke of the impact on all the family. “I am worried about (him) once this is all over. Clearly this has affected him,” he stated. “In my eyes, whether she was going through a bad time or not, she still knew his age.” He added: “People have sometimes laughed it off but it was completely wrong.”

Mother-of-three Hindmarch, latterly of Raiselands Croft, Penrith, admitted nine charges of sexual activity with a child, and was said to have even diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder after significant domestic violence.

Hindmarch’s barrister, Kim Whittlestone, said: “One of the explanations is the fact that the PTSD has led to her forming inappropriate relationships and blurring sexual boundaries as a result of the difficulties she has had, as a result of that long-term abuse.

“She tells me today she is remorseful for her offending,” added Miss Whittlestone. “She has shown over the last 15 months she is determined to tackle the issues that effectively led to her offending behaviour.”

“She was and still is a vulnerable young woman and certainly there is work to do.”

Jailing Hindmarch for 32 months, Judge Andrew Jefferies QC told her: “You ended an abusive relationship. It seems that as well as going through a period of self destruct, you sought comfort in a wholly inappropriate place, namely a 14-year-old boy.”

Hindmarch must sign the sex offenders’ register and abide by the strict terms of a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, and her case will be reported to the barring authorities.