Love with teenage boy

A married woman who had a six-month relationship with a teenage boy has been spared jail today.  Marie Jane Friendship, 38, told people she was in love with the teenager and even sought advice from a solicitor about the legality of the affair.  Prosecutor Kenneth Bell told Bristol Crown Court Friendship was wrongly told there was no criminal offence because the boy was over 16 years old.

 He said the affair, which happened while she was living with her partner of 18 years, only came to light because she told others.  Friendship, of Whitchurch, Bristol, admitted one count of having sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.  She was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years today.  Judge Julian Lambert accepted the affair resulted from 'genuine affection on both sides'.  Mr Bell said there was no way of knowing how the affair affected the boy as he 'declined to assist police in any way'.

The relationship ended when legal proceedings began.  Friendship was charged with a position of trust offence, which aims to protect children over the age of consent who have the potential to be vulnerable to sexual abuse by adults in positions of trust.  Robert Duval, defending, said Friendship's life had been wrecked by her actions and now she could not even get employment as a cleaner.

He said: 'She has never been in trouble in any way, shape or form in her life before these events.'It is to her credit that she has been as frank as she has to the sexual relationship that has taken place.

'Had she not done so it is probable, although not certain, that she would not have been prosecuted and this matter would have made no news and she would not have appeared in the dock of a Crown Court in this country.'She was not obliged to do that and she has been courageous for doing that.

'She is deeply and genuinely ashamed for what she has done. She is humiliated by her current circumstances.'She realises with the benefit of hindsight that she was foolish and irresponsible with her behaviour. He said: 'She has never been in trouble in any way, shape or form in her life before these events.


'It is to her credit that she has been as frank as she has to the sexual relationship that has taken place.

'Had she not done so it is probable, although not certain, that she would not have been prosecuted and this matter would have made no news and she would not have appeared in the dock of a Crown Court in this country.'She was not obliged to do that and she has been courageous for doing that.

'She is deeply and genuinely ashamed for what she has done. She is humiliated by her current circumstances.
'She realises with the benefit of hindsight that she was foolish and irresponsible with her behaviour.