Leah Roberts has been given a suspended sentence for grooming a 13-year-old girl

A lesbian teaching assistant kissed a vulnerable 13-year-old girl after sending her a series of sexual text messages.

Leah Roberts, 21, told the girl she would make her 'fall for her,' Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Martin Hooper, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant met the complainant through a third party at a youth club.

'They had met in the summer of 2013. She was contacted through WhatsApp, and they began to message.

'The messages became of a sexual nature. The defendant asked her age, the victim asked her to guess. She then told the defendant.

'She was asked if she was single, she said she wasn't, and the defendant said she could change that and make her fall for her. They met up on at least five occasions and kissed.

'There was one occasion where she tried to put her hand lower on the body of the victim but she stopped her.'

Mr Hooper told the court the victim then broke off the relationship, reported it to her school, who then contacted the police.

A court heard Roberts, who worked for teaching agencies, sent the girl explicit messages

Roberts, who has worked for agencies World Class Teachers and Exciting Teaching Sports Coaching, admitted meeting a girl under 16 for sexual grooming but denied non-penetrative sexual activity with the teen.

That charge was left on file following her guilty plea to the grooming charge.

Judge Oscar Del-Fabbro gave Roberts a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years, as well as a restraining order, forbidding her from contacting the victim directly or indirectly.

He said: 'You have had your fair share of problems, personal problems and mental health issues.

'However, it is no excuse for the conduct that you exhibited. There was clearly a sexual purpose to your intentions.'