'YOU TASTE DELICIOUS'

Mum-of-two teaching assistant, 41, kissed special needs pupil, 17, and accepted Haribo ring in mock proposal

The month-long relationship followed the breakdown of her marriage

A TEACHING assistant kissed a special needs teenage pupil and accepted his "Haribo ring" in a mock marriage proposal, a court heard.

Mum-of-two Susan Ayres once texted the 17-year-old boy: "You're sexy, you taste delicious."

The month-long relationship followed the breakdown of her marriage.

Ayres, who has since reunited with her husband, also said "I love you" in messages to the teenager.

The boy told police he had to pause his Playstation because Ayres would text him a lot.

They often went out in her car and held hands on a trip to Weston-super-Mare.

Ayres, of Swindon, Wilts, escaped jail at the city's magistrates this week but must register as a sex offender for seven years.

Prosecutor Susan Lambert said: "When they went for drives, she said they had to be careful because she didn't want to get caught."

During one outing she leant over to kiss him on the lips.

"He says he felt sorry for her so he kissed her hand," Ms Lambert said.

Ayres also touched the boy on the leg, magistrates heard.

The boy was "too scared" to tell teachers at the school, before another teacher discovered the relationship.

In a witness statement, the boy said he had been feeling suicidal and now needs counselling.

"I walked into roads about five or six times, I had just had enough of it all," he said.

Defending, Cathy Thornton said that at the time of the relationship Ayres was at a low point personally and professionally.

She painted a picture for magistrates of a "lady separated from her husband, struggling to cope emotionally".

She received a twelve-week jail sentence suspended for 18 months.

Ayres was told to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation days with the probation service.

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