Pervert foster carer jailed after grooming boy two decades ago

Samantha Hesler lavished gifts on the young boy before sexually abusing her victim in her own home.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Hesler bought him cigarettes, booze and computer games during their three year sexual relationship.

In a devastating victim personal impact statement, the man spoke of the lasting impact the abuse had on him twenty years later.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he had been left depressed and angry by the abuse he faced in the 1990s at her hands.

He added: "I no longer have a social life and I don't work. I gave up my business because I was afraid people from my past may have judged me.

"I don't like to go out and I even distance myself from parents and siblings, only seeing them on special occasions.

"I don't take my children on local outings due to the chance of bumping into people from my past."

Samantha Hesler

The claims of abuse only came to light when the alleged victim broke down when his wife told him she wanted to be a social worker and he told her what had happened when he was a teenager, the court heard during her trial in October last year.

The-now 50-year-old had denied touching his genitals over his clothing or putting a condom on him in the late 90s when he would visit her Middlesbrough home.

Giving evidence during the four-day trial, the victim said he had a three-year affair with Hesler after befriending the married social worker in the 90s.

The jury heard how the sexual behaviour continued until they had full penetrative sexual intercourse when he was still a teenager but due to the age of the offences the only charges she faced were for sexual assault.

Ian Mullarkey, in mitigation, said his client had not reoffended since the sexual assaults when she was in her mid-20s.

Judge Paul Watson QC sentenced Hesler, of The Dorkins, Great Broughton near Stokesley, to two years and six months and ordered her to sign on the sex offenders' register until further notice.

He said: "Despite the age gap between you, you formed a sexual relationship with him though not for the first time I remind myself that we are not dealing with you for having a full sexual relationship with him."

Hesler was also issued with an indefinite restraining order.

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