A mother of three was sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy for more than two years before she fell pregnant to him, a court has heard.

The woman, 40, who cannot be named, gave birth to a daughter in May last year when her victim was 14.

The victim's mother, who was a close friend of the offender, told the County Court on Wednesday that her son now sees the baby girl as his "little princess" and "shining light" but his life had been destroyed.

She revealed how she had been by her close friend's side when she gave birth in hospital unaware that the child was her son's.

The victim's mother said the offender initially denied that the boy was the father and declared that that would be "disgusting". The father's name is not listed on the child's birth certificate.