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A woman who stole the virginity of an innocent schoolboy less than half her age and used him as her “sexual plaything” has come face to face with him almost 30 years later in court.

Marie McCarthy’s 15-year-old victim, who did not tell police of his embarrassing secret until last year, angrily stormed out of the courtroom when a judge let her walk free.

“Used him as your sexual plaything”

Judge Denis Watson, QC, said, “Over the course of a six week summer holiday you seduced him, the son of a friend of yours. As you look back now at your behaviour then as a mature 33-year-old towards a 15-year-old boy I hope you realise how shameful and grotesque it was.

“You manipulated him for your own sexual advantage, you groomed him. You knew the riot of emotions he as a 15year-old was going through as adolescence and puberty sent him one way and then the other. You used him as your sexual plaything.”

The “utterly embarrassed” boy eventually told his mum’s partner but when confronted about McCarthy “shrugged it off with ‘it was one of those things’ attitude,” said the judge.

“I hope you now realise your behaviour has cast a shadow over his life for the last 29 and a half years. An appalling shadow which had had a real impact upon him.”

Judge Watson told the 62-year-old grandmother that if anyone thought it was the sort of behaviour a 15-year-old boy would fantasise about “this case gives the live to that very false picture.

“You deserve to go to prison for what you did, it was not a one off but a string of different sexual acts against him that summer. The very fact that he came forward last year to tell someone tells you it is not something he has been able to leave behind at all.”

But he added he took into account her various health problems, good character and guilty pleas, although she only admitted the offences on the day set for her trial.

Sentencing McCarthy, who appeared indifferent throughout the hearing, to 21 months imprisonment suspended for two years Judge Watson said that it was right she should be ashamed and humiliated.

McCarthy, of Hurst Park Drive, Huyton , who admitted four offences of indecent assault, was also placed under supervision for two years with attendance on a probation project and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.

“Genuinely ashamed”

Lee Bonner, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court today that at the start of the school summer holidays in 1986 McCarthy visited the boy’s mum and when he came downstairs in a towel to get something for his bath she wolf-whistled at him.

As he left the room he heard her telling his mum that if she went after him he “would go up the stairs as a boy and come down as a man.”

While he was in the bath she came in, plunged her hand into the water and grabbed his private parts and after making a sexual remark she left laughing.

A week later he was at her Huyton home looking after her young son when she sat next to him wearing a tight nightdress and after saying everything would be all right began stroking different parts of his body.

She helped him undress, before they had sexual intercourse.

“He did not fancy her but did not know how to stop what was happening,” said Mr Bonner.

McCarthy “orchestrated” about 30 other occasions when they were alone for various sexual activity and he felt coerced into taking part. Eventually he told his mum’s partner who said he would sort it out but McCarthy continued her abuse of him. She would say, “I have to have you” and “I can’t stop myself.”

Teresa Loftus, defending, said that McCarthy had been forced to tell her children and grandchildren what she had done almost three decades ago and she was “genuinely ashamed.”

She has since led a decent and productive life, predominately caring for her family and she has had to move since the offences came to light because of threats and abuse.

She has various health conditions including angina and had used alcohol as “a crutch,” she said.