Married mum Helen Turnbull was cleared by a jury of three allegations of sexual activity with the 16-year-old pupil but had admitted sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust
A teaching assistant who embarked on an affair with a 16-year-old pupil as her marriage collapsed has been found not guilty of having sex with the boy.
Helen Turnbull, 35, sobbed in the dock when a jury cleared her of three counts relating to allegations she had sex with him, performed a sex act on him and that she had oral sex.
However, she admitted one count of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.
This related to kissing a pupil from the secondary school where she was a literacy assistant, in secret meetings in her Mini convertible.
Judge Peter Armstrong gave her a four month jail sentence suspended for two years, ordered her to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and imposed a restraining order to keep her away from the boy.
The trial at Teesside Crown Court heard how her life 'had been ruined' by the affair, losing her job and contact with her two children.
She has admitted kissing him during secret meetings in her Mini convertible, and sending him sexy messages, including a picture of herself in her underwear.
In one phone message, she joked how two men who had seen them kiss in public would have thought they were 'really horny', the court heard.
The defendant said that although she sent sexual messages, they had not had sex.
Asked if she was in love with the boy she replied: "No I was not, I cared about him. When I look back now I don't know what I was thinking."
