Mum, 42, Spared Jail For Underage Sex With Boy, 15, Because She Had His Baby

Mum, 42, Spared Jail For Underage Sex With Boy, 15, Because She Had His Baby
Rui Vieira/PA Archive

A mum of two who had sex with a 15-year-old boy has been spared jail after a judge heard she has given birth to his baby.

Married Helen Cartwright, 42, slept with the boy after months of flirting - and told police she knew he was under age.

The relationship started as 'hugging and kissing' before they had sex at the home she shared with her husband and children.

Cartwright became pregnant and gave birth five months ago. She and the boy are now a couple after he turned 16.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, the mum, from Dudley, West Midlands, admitted sex with an under-age child and received a two-year suspended jail term.

Prosecutors said the boy instigated the sexual relationship.

Judge John Warner said: "You are not necessarily a sophisticated person and clearly gave no thought to the consequences.

"You should not have allowed things to continue as you did.

"There is clearly a significant difference in age but if this had happened two months later no crime would have been committed.

"I have thought long and hard about it, and in this case it may be appropriate to move outside the acceptable sentencing guidelines. Your relationship is now, for better or for worse, a legal one."

The court heard the boy seduced Cartwright and had sex with her in her home where she lived with her husband and children.

Prosecutor Ms Sati Ruck said: "It was the boy who instigated the sexual relationship when he slept with the defendant in her own bed."

Cartwright was arrested after social services were contacted following a tip-off about her relationship with the boy.

The court heard the pair stopped seeing each other when the police became involved but have rekindled their relationship and now have a child together.

Ms Sharonjit Bahia, defending, said: "She admitted her guilt in a police interview and made no attempt to hide her involvement."

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