Jailed: Emma Williams, 42, pictured leaving Preston Crown Court in January

A 42-year-old woman who fondled a drunk teenage girl on a camping trip has been jailed.

Emma Williams took advantage of the 15-year-old girl inside her own tent while she was on a camping weekend with her friend near Chester Racecourse in April last year.

The teenage victim and her 13-year-old friend had become intoxicated after drinking wine samples bought from a food stall.

Williams said she went inside the teenager's tent because she had seen her looking unwell and wanted to help.

Once inside, Williams, who was in a same-sex marriage at the time, sexually touched the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and told her she loved her.

The pair subsequently swapped a large number of intimate text messages. Police were called after the victim's mother checked her daughter's phone and discovered the exchanges.

Williams, from Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire, admitted sexual activity with a child and was jailed for 32 months at Preston Crown Court.

She bowed her head as Judge Christopher Cornwall told her: 'This was not a moment of madness, you allowed this to develop into a continuing relationship, arguably doing more damage to this girl in the process and you were nearly three times her age.

'Boys and girls of that age don't necessarily understand what they are becoming involved in and they don't understand the consequences. My impression is that this young girl didn't have control over what was happening.

'Her account to the police portrays you in a grim light - taking advantage of a 15 year old.

'It's known that you and her communicated with each other after this weekend was over- but there is a world of difference between the way she expressed herself in text messages and Facebook messages compared to the what she was later to tell the police.

'The truth of the matter is this was a consensual encounter but young people whether they are boys or girls, under the age of 16, don't always understand what they do or are asked to do and don't always understand the full emotional impact.

'This girl's head was completely turned by the flattering attention you put on her. She was also under the influence of alcohol. I don't suggest you plied her with alcohol but you do seem to have taken advantage of the fact she was intoxicated.'

The court heard how Williams had been staying in a caravan near the girl when she noticed the teenager was drunk and unwell and went into her tent with a view to helping her.

Prosecuting, Miss Mercedeh Jabbari, said: 'The defendant hugged her which she said made her feel uncomfortable. Then she told her to stroke her hair.

Preston Crown Court, pictured, heard how Williams and the victim exchanged a number of intimate messages

'She stroked her back and kissed her then touched the girl's breast and told her she loved her. Then she moved her hand to her underwear. The defendant told her she had to be quiet.

'She described feeling uncomfortable. Eventually the girl told the defendant she needed the toilet and she was escorted to and from the toilet.

'On their return the defendant kissed her and started rubbing her back which resulted in her falling asleep. Her actions were akin to grooming.'

In mitigation defence lawyer Miss Rachel Woods, said: 'She has apologised for her behaviour and expresses how she is deeply ashamed. She is genuinely remorseful.

Emma Williams took advantage of the 15-year-old girl inside her own tent while she was on a camping weekend with her friend and her friend's mother near Chester Racecourse (pictured in file image) last April

'She clearly accepts full responsibility for these offences. That's rare in cases of this nature and it bares testament to the type of woman she is. These offences seem to occur at a period when her own relationship was irrepairable.

'They appear to be based on genuine but ill advised feelings towards the complainant by the defendant who should have known better. She was just surprised and flattered that they were reciprocated.'