Teaching assistant avoids jail despite 'appalling' acts with 15-year-old pupil

A TEACHING assistant who sent pornographic pictures of herself to a teenage pupil has escaped jail despite her "appalling" actions.

Elaine McKay, Elaine Mckay teacher, teacher sexual images, teacher indecent images, teaching assistant explicit pictures, teacher explicit images,Grandmother Elaine Mckay was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence [EAST NEWS]

Grandmother Elaine McKay, 58, was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence after sending a string of explicit images to the 15-year-old boy and performing sex acts on Skype.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard mother-of-two McKay's career is in tatters and she is now regarded as a figure of fun who is jeered at by people in the street.

Sentencing her, Judge Patricia Lynch QC said: "This has caused you considerable distress and upset and the loss of your reputation and career, but frankly you deserve that.

"This was appalling behaviour by a woman of your age - a serious breach of trust.

"You are the subject of derision and you deserve it.

"Parents should be able to trust teachers with their adolescent children."

McKay was also ordered to complete 200 hours community service and a five year ban from working with children

David Pilditch

McKay was also ordered to complete 200 hours community service and a five year ban from working with children.

The court heard the schoolboy sent McKay an indecent picture of himself and she responded with similar images on her phone and the internet.

Gary Pons, prosecuting, said some of the teenager's friends saw the images and word got to teachers at the 1,700-pupil Clacton Coastal Academy in Essex.

Police were were called in and an investigation revealed McKay had sent a string of lewd images, including posing with a cucumber and performing a sex act.

She admitted causing a child to look at sexually explicit images.

McKay was also charged with two counts of sexual activity with the teenager.

Last month married McKay wept as she was cleared of the offences by a jury.

Maria Dineen, mitigating, said: "She accepts she has let everybody down, her employers, her family and herself. She accepts it was a gross breach of trust and has expressed genuine remorse."

McKay was suspended by the school and resigned on August 12 before any disciplinary action.

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