A PREDATOR who groomed and sexually assaulted a young boy has been jailed after she tried claiming he forced himself on her.
Caitlin Hutchinson befriended the teen then sent him sexually explicit messages.
Caitlin Hutchinson groomed and sexually assaulted her victim[/caption]
The 21-year-old also made him perform sex acts on her over several months.
Her vile crimes only came to an end when the boy bravely told his parents what had happened and they phoned the police.
But callous Hutchinson tried to worm her way out by falsely claiming the teen forced himself on her.
She has now been jailed for four years for six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a boy and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
Hutchinson also admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and causing or inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity.
Durham Crown Court heard how the victim struggles with anxiety and depression following the ordeal.
In a statement, he added: “The last 18 months have been hell for me, going through what she put me through and keeping it from my family because I felt ashamed.
“I’ve changed so much because of what I’ve been through. I don’t want to be around women alone because I don’t feel safe, even around women I know because I don’t want to be targeted and manipulated again.
“I feel like I will never get over what she has done to me, that I am damaged, and that I will never be fully happy. I just want a normal life and I don’t feel that my life will ever be normal again.
“I hope I can move on with my life, although I feel I cannot forgive her for ruining my childhood.”
As well as a jail sentence, Hutchinson was placed on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.
The fiend was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) preventing her from having contact with children under 16.
She will be blocked from using social media websites without notifying the police first.
PC Sophie Farrugia, from South Durham CID, led the investigation. She said: “Hutchinson is a manipulative sex offender who preyed on a vulnerable young boy and exploited his good nature for her own sexual gratification.
“She has showed no concern for the long-lasting effect that her behaviour has had on him, which has resulted in significant emotional trauma.
“I’d like to commend the boy for his bravery and courage in reporting what happened to him and for standing up to Hutchinson in court and bringing her to justice.
“I hope today’s result brings him some closure and allows him to move forward with his life.”
