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Moments after a shaken Kitts was handcuffed and led to the cell blocks, her victim’s mother said she was relieved the painful case was finally over and expressed thanks to Ottawa police.

“My son is also glad it’s over and he’s looking forward to moving on with his life,” his mother told Postmedia.

“I would also like to say that I believe that justice has been served. Hopefully the strength of our judicial system in this ruling will spare others from suffering through future, similar crimes,” she added.

Her son had always struggled in class, so when he met Kitts, he was grateful, court previously heard. She would, he felt, guide him through to graduation day. She helped him with his homework and he trusted her. But a year later, Kitts was stalking him and he felt like he had to have sex with her for fear she’d fail him. His secret haunted him and he became distant, tired and withdrawn.

Kitts, who has expressed remorse, will be on probation for two years after she completes her jail sentence.

The court heard that the disgraced teacher’s aide will never work with children again, and will try to build a new career in the construction business.

Kitts’s sex crimes were exposed in 2014 when the boy’s mother found sexually graphic text messages on his phone. Kitts was charged in October 2014. She pleaded guilty last March to one count of sexual exploitation by someone in a position of trust.

gdimmock@postmedia.com

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