Laura Bardsley, aged 26, of Reddish, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at the Crown Court after admitting four counts of sexual activity with a child, harassment, and possessing a prohibited item in prison.
The court heard that the offences took place between June and September 2020 during the national lockdown. Bardsley, a former care worker, groomed an underage schoolboy while receiving personal support from the boy’s parents during a difficult period in her own relationship. Over that four-month window, Bardsley engaged in sexual intercourse with the child on at least 15 separate occasions and exchanged sexually explicit messages with him.
Police arrested Bardsley on 11 September 2020. The court was told that following the abuse, the victim’s behaviour deteriorated and his school attendance dropped. Although released on bail with strict conditions barring contact with the victim, Bardsley repeatedly violated the order. She created multiple alternative social media profiles, used different phone numbers, sent jealous messages about his online interactions, and contacted both the boy and his new partner.
Police arrested Bardsley a second time after an officer observed her in the company of the child during school hours.
Following her remand in custody on 15 February 2021, custodial staff searched her cell the following day and recovered a concealed mobile telephone.
Appearing before the Crown Court, Bardsley entered formal guilty pleas to:
- Four counts of sexual activity with a child
- One count of harassment
- One count of possessing a prohibited item in prison
Sentencing Bardsley to a six-year custodial term, Judge Bernadette Baxter condemned the abuse of trust committed while the victim’s family were offering her help.
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