Marie Dent has been jailed for grooming a 15-year-old boy

A paedophile mother who posed as a 15-year-old girl on Facebook before grooming a boy has been jailed.

Marie Dent, 44, used a fake picture to pose as a child online so she could seduce the 15-year-old.

Dent, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, spoke to the teenager about love before kissing and cuddling him when they met up.

During their second meeting Dent engaged in sexual activity with the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Dent admitted sexual activity with a child and possession of an indecent image of a child at Chelmsford Crown Court last month and was sentenced today.

At a previous hearing, Jane Oldfield, prosecuting, told the court Dent had maintained the lie that she was 15 during three meetings in November and December 2016.

She said: 'She entered into communication with the young man, a 15-year-old boy, and throughout she maintained she was 15.

'They met up on two occasions and by that time the communications had become intimate.

Dent admitted sexual activity with a child and possessing indecent images of a child at Chelmsford Crown Court. She was today jailed for three years

'By the time they met they had been talking of love.'

Dent allowed her fake Facebook account to lay dormant for several months before contacting the 15-year-old, along with other users.

Marie Dent had sexual activity with a teenage boy and has been jailed for three years

The boy said he did not initiate any activity but told police he was a willing participant and was not coerced.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC said: 'It matters not who initiated the activity. She was the adult, he was the child.'

Defending, Hannah Sutton said Dent was emotionally fragile.

Police have welcomed Dent's sentence and labelled her a 'predator'.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Richard English of Essex Police, said: 'Marie Dent is a predator who used a false identity on social media to make friends with someone she knew was 15.

'She deceived the victim, claiming she was the same age and, on those lies, built a friendship which became sexual.

'This was a dreadful case and I'm pleased we've been able to safeguard the victim.

'I hope Dent will use her time in prison to reflect on her actions and their consequences.'

Dent has been forced to sign the sex offenders' register for life and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.