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A judge told a 45-year-old woman ‘no more licking’ after she was sentenced for sending an underage girl explicit messages.

Natalie Cummins, 45, of Boscastle , went on trial at Truro Crown Court earlier this week charged with sexual communication with a child for her own sexual gratification.

Cafe owner Cummins, whose husband of 15 years sat in the public gallery throughout the trial, exchanged thousands of messages with the victim over the course of several months about topics such as kissing, cuddling and “ass stuff”.

The majority of their messages were sent via WhatsApp, while others were exchanged on Snapchat.

Cummins denied that the messages were for the purpose of her obtaining sexual gratification, but was convicted by a jury on Wednesday evening after just over four hours of deliberation .

Opening the case, prosecuting barrister Philip Lee told the court that Cummins became sexually attracted to the girl, also suggesting that she fell in love with the teenager.

The conversations, in which the defendant's user name was 'A Big Spoon', frequently referred to the pair "snuggling" or "cuddling".

Other messages referred to “ass, thigh and back stuff”.

Cummins also told the girl, “I stopped myself from kissing you”, and “you know where to touch me and for how long”.

While Cummins denied kissing the girl, she did admit to licking her face.

Sitting as judge, recorder Jane Rowley sentenced Cummins to a 12-month community order and told her: “No more licking Mrs Cummins. It’s a quite bizarre aspect of this case and you have to reign in your banter and sexual innuendo.”

Recorder Rowley said she accepted Cummins’ show of shame and remorse and acceptance of responsibility.

“You did impress on me during the course of giving your evidence of being an intelligent and hard working woman, who moved to this area in 2015 and built up what seems to be vibrant business," Recorder Rowley added.

“You are a much valued member of the community, but your behaviour towards [the victim] did let you down.”

Police were alerted to some of the messages by a friend of the victim, who discovered them while using her Snapchat account.

In other messages Cummins told the girl that she loved her, while at one stage the girl told Cummins, “I just love how you made me fall asleep and then woke me up with kisses”.

Other messages referred to “pushing the line”, a line which Cummins told the girl stopped at underwear.

Another Snapchat from Cummins stated: "I like doing lots of things with my tongue”.

The girl later said: "You should be in my bed," to which Cummins responded: "You definitely wouldn’t be getting your assignment done if I was."

Later in the conversation, Cummins wrote: "I’m just trying not to be a total paedo," followed by a laughing emoji.

Prosecutor Mr Lee explained that the girl later messaged Cummins to warn her that she had been reported to the police.

Cummins then instructed the girl to delete a number of messages and asked for her log in details for Snapchat.

Barrister Lee Brembridge, for the defence, said Cummins “always accepted that the messages were messages which she should have not have sent”.

Mr Brembridge said: “The issue was what the intent was from it.”

A probation officer said Cummins “clearly expressed shame and remorse” for her actions.

“She fully accepts her behaviour in sending the messages was wrong and she needs to address her attitude and behaviour," the probation officer said.

“In hindsight she accepts her behaviour was unacceptable, whether or not she considered it to be of a criminal standard.”

Cummins must complete 60 hours of unpaid work and complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

A sexual harm prevention order was also made, in addition to a restraining order barring Cummins from contacting the girl directly or indirectly for a period of two years.

Cummins must also sign the sex offenders register for a period of five years, and pay £700 in court costs.