A mother-of-three who groomed a 15-year-old boy into a sexual relationship after giving him cannabis and has been spared jail. 
Nicole Lines, 28, from Kent, invited the boy to her family home to console her when she was feeling upset. 
She gave him cannabis and alcohol and they soon became intimate.
At the time, the child, who cannot be named, believed he had 'hit the jackpot' and was 'in love' with her.
But after reporting Lines to the police he revealed he had felt 'exploited' by her actions.
Nicole Lines, 28, was ordered to complete 60 probation days and ten years of notification requirements
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While Kent Police was suspicious about the situation, the force were unable to find evidence of Lines' exploitation until the boy alerted the authorities himself.
At Canterbury Crown Court, Lines admitted to two counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and supply and possession of a Class B drug.
The indecent images were of the boy she groomed.
She was handed two years in prison but the sentence was suspended for two years.
The boy became emotionally unstable during the course of Lines' grooming, the court heard.
Prosecutor Jai Patel said: 'The relationship was very emotional and volatile, he became suicidal or at least expressed suicidal thoughts, and thoughts of self-harm.'
Judge Rupert Lowe branded Lines' actions as 'serious sexual offences' but was convinced she was not predatorial and became attracted to the boy as a 'one-off'.
At Canterbury Crown Court, Lines admitted to two counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and supply and possession of a Class B drug (stock image)
He told Lines, who cried in the dock: 'It is clear from the messages I've seen, you and he regarded yourselves as being in a loving relationship which you both valued and his mother was going along with it.'
Judge Lowe added that the boy felt 'he had hit the jackpot, he was in love, he was getting plenty of sex, he was being provided with drugs and alcohol and he thought everything was great.'
In retrospect he felt 'exploited and has suffered significant upset and stress as a result of that ill-advised relationship.
'He blames you, and rightly so, because you were an adult.'
Following her arrest, Lines admitted the sexual relationship to detectives, explaining she 'was attracted to the boy' and 'knew what she was doing was wrong but he kept coming to her'.
She denied supplying drugs other than sharing cannabis with him, the court heard.
Lines, who is of previous good character apart from not paying a railway fare, appeared visibly distressed throughout the court hearing.
The court heard she grew up in care following a tumultuous childhood and later suffered serious medical and mental health complications.
James Burke, mitigating, said that she used cannabis, alcohol and MDMA to self-medicate, and was a 'very vulnerable person herself'.
Lines, who was supported by a friend in the public gallery, was ordered to complete 60 probation days and ten years of notification requirements.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this top article you can call the Samaritans for free, completely anonymously on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org for help and support. 


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