A mother-of-three who "corrupted" a teenage schoolboy with sex has been jailed. Rachel Geraghty, now 41, had sex with the teen on two occasions while in her 20s, a court heard, as she was sent to prison for three years.
Derby Crown Court heard on one occasion Geraghty invited the boy to eat at her house and engaged in sexual intercourse with him on the sofa before a four-year-old boy walked in on the pair and the teen hurriedly put his trousers back on, reports DerbyshireLive.
The mother was arrested by police on May 7 last year after the child, believed to be 13 or 14 at the time of the assault, reported the incident to his mother before Geraghty revealed what had transpired to a social worker.
Judge Robert Egbuna said in an interview with officers Geraghty, in her 20s at the time of the act, said the boy 'instigated the matters'.
The judge said: “Children are meant to be protected, he was a child and he was vulnerable and you were an adult. You invited him into your bedroom under the pretence he should watch a film with you.
“He was wearing a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms and you asked him to come down by your side and you started running your fingers up and down his neck. He suggests this lasted for around 10 minutes but it may have been shorter than this.
“You then brought your hand down and started to massage (him in a sexual way). You asked him to get on top of you and you asked him if he liked the fact that you were touching him and he said ‘yes’.
“You manoeuvred him in between your legs (and had sex with him). He says he felt like he had to do it but he was a child and you were an adult. In his own words he was ‘not particularly clued up' and you corrupted him. During the sex you placed your breasts in his face.
“You told him not to tell anyone and he didn’t because he was scared you would find out. But matters did not rest there because two weeks later you invited him round for tea and ended up having sex with him on your sofa. At some point your four-year-old child came into the room although it is not suggested he saw what was happening, it caused (the victim) to pull his trousers up.
“Eventually he told his mother, you told a social worker and they told you to tell the police and that led to your arrest on May 7, last year. In your interview, you started to suggest he was the one who effectively instigated the matters. (The victim) stated the (offences) affected his upbringing, he resented women and he has had problems with relationships, and he also said he’s had mental health problems as a consequence, including having to go for anger management.”
Sarah Phelan, prosecuting, said both incidents took place when the victim was aged 13 or 14 and Geraghty was in her 20s. She said after they happened the defendant, told the teen not to tell anyone what they had done.
She said the complainant eventually came forward and told people what had taken place and the defendant was arrested and interviewed. Miss Phelan read out a victim impact statement made ahead of sentencing in court. He said he began to “resent women”.
Geraghty pled guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and has no previous convictions, the court heard.
Amber Walker, mitigating, said her client had pleaded guilty, meaning the victim would not have to relive the ordeal by giving evidence in court at a trial.
She said: “The consequences of this case will be felt deeply by her and others. She was at a difficult stage in her life at the time having just come out of a verbally abusive relationship.”
Judge Egbuna placed Geraghty on the sex offender register for 10 years and handed her a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, on top of the jail term.
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