A judge jailed a former high school English teacher after she pleaded guilty to sexually abusing three male students.

Brianne Altice, from Utah, sobbed in court and apologised to the civilians, one of whom was aged 16 and the other two 17 when she initially had sex with them.

The 36-year-old Altice was initially free while her case played out, but was sent to jail in January after it emerged that she continued a sexual relationship with one of the then 17-year-old boys while she was out on bail.

Brianne Altice wept in court (AP)

The Associated Press said her lawyer said Altice was damaged person who gave into daily flirtations from the boys because she was belittled at home and dealing with self-esteem problems.

She cried as she apologised to the victims at a sentencing hearing on Thursday where she was sentenced to at least two years behind bars and at most 30 years. It is unlikely she will serve anywhere near as long as the maximum sentence.

“I am human and I messed up during a very vulnerable time in my life,'”she told the court.

The mother of the then-16-year-old victim said her son was also vulnerable.