Sonia Ruth Mackay, 43, pleaded guilty to persistent sexual exploitation of a child in September.The District Court heard she groomed a 17-year-old boy before having unlawful sex with him numerous times including at her house, at his family’s home and in public areas including in a lift and in a city car park.
Judge Liesl Chapman said Mackay drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes and cannabis with the victim and bought him expensive presents.
“In light of what you were doing and the way you were doing it, it is evident to me that you could not have been thinking straight,” Judge Chapman said.
Judge Chapman said Mackay’s offending had a devastating impact on the victim and his family.
“The victim’s mother said she does not pity you because you are a grown woman, a teacher, a mother and a wife who she says manipulated her son’s emotions to meet your own selfish needs,” she said.
“Your behaviour causes a feeling of outrage, quite rightly, in the community.
“Your behaviour was manipulative and unforgivable.”
Mackay wept as she was sentenced to four years and five months in prison.
The court heard a psychiatric assessment found Mackay was at a low risk of sexual reoffending and that she was sorry for the pain and suffering she had caused her victim and his family.
However, Judge Chapman said suspending the sentence would not adequately deter others from engaging in such behaviour.
She said Mackay’s offending was a gross breach of trust.
Judge Chapman said she understood “jail would be difficult and crushing” and imposed a non-parole period of two years and one month.
As she was taken into custody, Mackay told her family who were visibly upset, that she loved them.
