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A WOMAN who disguised herself as a man to trick two teenage girls into having sexual relationships with her has been jailed for 30 months.

Guildford Crown Court was told on Monday (March 5) how "manipulative and deceptive" Gemma Barker, 20, of Cherry Tree Road, Staines, created three male alter-egos on the internet and used them to dupe the teenage girls into dates.

The victims, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, plus their friends and families, were taken in when she dressed up as the teenage males and started real-life relationships with the girls, the court was told.

Barker appeared to be sentenced, having earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and one of fraud.

Barker, previously of Island Farm Road, West Molesey, was 17 at the time of the offences which were carried out over a seven-month period between November 23 2009 and May 10 2010.

Following psychiatric and psychological reports, the court was told Barker suffered from autism spectrum disorder, a personality disorder and ADHD.

Sentencing, Judge Moss said he had deliberated over whether custodial sentence was preferable to her being treated at a specialist mental health unit, however he decided the offences were too serious.

Barker was sentenced to 30 months in a young offender's institute for the two charges of sexual assault, and three months for the charge of fraud, to run concurrently.

She was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.