A female teacher's aide who admitted to grooming a boy for sex has failed to have her case dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

Jackie Mary Hays, 51, pleaded guilty earlier this year to grooming the 15-year-old student for sex in 2015.

Her solicitor Gillian Jewison had asked for the case to be dealt with under mental health provisions.

Newcastle Local Court today heard Hays suffered from a borderline personality disorder.

Her solicitor also claimed that the weight-loss drug Duromine may have changed her sex drive and altered her state of mind.

But magistrate Robert Stone said there was no medical link between the drug and Hays's behaviour, and the only evidence of a change in personality had come from friends who had described her as being "off the wall".

'Community expects more from people working in schools'

Ms Jewison said Hays's offending was at the lower end of the scale, but prosecutor Stuart Ogilvy disagreed and said she had encouraged the boy to sneak out.

Mr Ogilvy added that the 32-year age difference between the boy and Ms Hays at the time, and the position she held at the school, brought the offending to another level.

Mr Stone outlined several reasons why he felt the seriousness of the case could not be dealt with under mental health provisions.

"The issue is whether proceedings will produce a better outcome for individual and the community," he said.

"I do not consider a dismissal is warranted because of the serious nature of offence.

"Because of her position at the school, I consider that that warrants some condemnation on behalf of the community.

"There is an issue of deterrence. In general terms, the community would expect better from people who work at school with children."

Defence wants suspended sentence

Ms Jewison urged Mr Stone to consider a non-custodial sentence and issue a suspended sentence.

But Mr Stone said the matter was a serious one.

"In my view her significant understanding of what she was doing is very clear from her own evidence," he said.

"She knew it was inappropriate, she knew it was illegal to have sex with the boy.

"I think it breaches the threshold, and she is not eligible for an intensive corrections order."

Hays is due to be sentenced on September 6.