A former Nebraska teacher has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for having sex with a student on his 16th birthday.

Emily Lofing, 27, was charged with debauching a minor as the boy was 16 years old, the age of consent in Nebraska. Lofing did not contest the charge, WOWT reports.

The married former teacher was working in Weeping Water at the time of the offence. She is alleged to have met up with the teenager to have sex in July 2016.

Her lawyer, Desirae Solomon, claimed she had suffered a “mental breakdown” and pleaded with the judge to consider Lofing’s stress from work and family history of depression as contributing factors to her behaviour.

Ms Solomon said Lofing had been leading a “double life” and “people who have known her for her whole entire life were shocked at this type of behaviour,” KWBE reports.

Deputy Otoe County Attorney John Palmtag requested that Lofing be given 180 days in jail and the maximum fine to send a strong message that “we won’t tolerate predatory acts among students”.

Judge John Steinheider drew attention to the timing of the offence, and told Lofing in court: “This alleged indiscretion, I’ll say, took place on the victim’s 16th birthday.

“You were less than 24 hours away from a felony here.”

Lofing has been sentenced to 90 days in jail, which could be reduced to 53 days for good behaviour, two years’ probation, 240 hours' community service and a $1,000 (£767) fine for contributing to the delinquency of a child.