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A married female teacher has been jailed for 30 years after sexually molesting a 16-year-old girl student.

Leslie DeWitt will have to serve every day of the sentence without the possibility of early release and must also register as a sex offender.

DeWitt was found guilty of molesting the 16-year-old student during the 2009-10 school year.

The mum was convicted on two counts of molesting a child for lust purposes but acquitted on two more serious charges of sexual battery.

Judge Larry Bourgeois told her: "You manipulated and took advantage of the trust that was given to you.

“You show no remorse whatsoever.

“She'll be paying for that loss the rest of her life. That loss comes from your hands.

“The most precious asset in our community is our children. It's our future.

“It was entrusted to you. You violated that sacred trust."

DeWitt, of Perkinston, Mississippi, was accused of having a sexual relationship with the girl between Dec. 1, 2009 and July 30, 2010.

The student said DeWitt abused her with a sex toy.

She reported the crime three years later when she was in college.

Her mum tipped off police after her daughter suffered depression and anxiety following the abuse.

DeWitt told her trial that she and the girl were like sisters.

They confided in each other, called and texted often and even took out of town trips together.

She also said the girl had access to a hidden house key and spent the night at her home.

Dewitt claimed allegations of a sexual or inappropriate relationship between them were “absolutely, 100 percent false.”

DeWitt’s lawyer Jim Davis, criticised the prosecution’s case for having a “lack of physical evidence,” which amounted to a sex toy and some pornographic DVD cases found in the her bedroom.

There was reasonable doubt as to the victim’s testimony that DeWitt abused her with the sex toy.

Mr. Davis said DeWitt and her husband had bought it at an adult video store.

He produced a bank statement showing the purchase was made three months after the time the student said DeWitt used it on her.

But the prosecution statement did not specifically say what item was bought.

A friend of the student said DeWitt showed “obsessive behavior” toward the student.

Prosecutor Chris Daniel told the SunHerald after the five-day trial finished on Monday: “The victim testified that Dewitt initially disclosed her feelings for the student in the 8th grade.

“After years of grooming, the defendant committed various sexual acts of sexual molestation on her over a period of approximately eight months.”