A TEACHING ASSISTANT who told a schoolboy “age is just a number” and slept with her student twice was today sentenced to probation.

Rebecca Williams, 21, sent flirtatious messages to the adolescent, telling him, “you’re fit,” before taking him to her home in Gwynedd, Wales.

Williams picked up the 15-year-old student in her car, according to Mold Crown Court, before the pair had sex at her home.

Williams then asked to meet up again, escorting him upstairs for a second encounter before pressuring the adolescent into a more intense relationship.

Her victim, however, blocked her on messaging apps after rumours began to circulate among school staff.

Williams admitted to two counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old boy and abuse of a position of trust.

“They watched TV before the defendant took him to her bedroom,” prosecutor Richard Edwards told the court. He described the first time as “awkward.”

“Rumors began to circulate among staff that the defendant had slept with a student.”

“The defendant was directly questioned about the information by the school’s head.” “The defendant denied that anything out of the ordinary had occurred.”

The situation was reported to social services, who notified police, who spoke with the teen about the allegations.

“They watched TV before the defendant took him to her bedroom,” prosecutor Richard Edwards told the court. He described the first time as “awkward.”

“Rumors began to circulate among staff that the defendant had slept with a student.”

“The defendant was directly questioned about the information by the school’s head.” “The defendant denied that anything out of the ordinary had occurred.”

The situation was reported to social services, who notified police, who spoke with the teen about the allegations.

He admitted to having sex with Williams, and she was arrested and confirmed what had occurred.

Several of the messages, the court heard, had to have been exchanged on school grounds.

In defending Williams, Jemma Gordon stated that she had a new job in construction and was receiving mental health treatment.

“She’s in a new relationship, which has helped her,” Miss Gordon added.

Williams was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to perform 150 hours of unpaid work.

She must also pay £576 in costs, register as a sex offender for ten years, and is not permitted to work with children.

Judge Nicola Saffman told Williams during her sentencing that she had “groomed” her victim and that sending messages on school grounds was an aggravating feature.

“You knew what you were doing,” Judge Saffman added. You were preparing to have a sexual relationship with him.”