A woman from Stockport at Minshull Street Crown Court has been jailed for six years after a series of sex offences with a vulnerable child. The woman, Laura Jane Bardsley, sent love letters to her victim and even took him to the hotel for the night.
Bardsley started to contact the boy online in June 2020 and she knew that the boy had several complex vulnerabilities and needs. She sexually talked with the boy and invited him into the home that she shared with her adult partner and two young children.
After the love letters were found by the mother of the boy, an investigation has launched and Bardsley was arrested.
Bardsley has been jailed for six years for two counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child, two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child, harassment of a child, and using an illicit mobile phone in prison. She also received a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order and need to sign the Sex Offender Register for life.
Detective Mike Allen, of Greater Manchester Police’s Complex Safeguarding Team, said: “Child sexual exploitation takes many forms. I’d like to pay tribute to the victim and his family for having the bravery to report this matter and have the willingness to give evidence even if it had gone to a trial and being prepared to face the offender.”
“I encourage young people who are – or anyone else who suspects a young person is – being inappropriately contacted by an adult via the internet, in person or any other channel to report it to an appropriate adult or agency, whether that is a parent, carer, teacher or the police.”
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