November 2015

Female babysitter who sexually abused boy she was looking after spared jail

A babysitter who repeatedly forced a 13-year-old boy in her care to perform sex acts has been spared prison.

Mary-Ellen Mooney, 19, attacked her victim on three separate occasions during an evening looking after him.

She later sent sexually explicit Facebook messages telling him: “We should meet up, just me and you. Keep it hush hush – don’t tell…”

Mooney, who was arrested after the boy’s shocked family complained to police, received a suspended jail sentence yesterday.

Judge Karen Holt said: “You were trusted to be the babysitter. You clearly knew what you were doing was wrong.

“I have listened very carefully to everything said on your behalf – I don’t find this an easy case.

“The law reflects the seriousness of this abuse of trust on a child so young.

“I am just about persuaded I don’t need to send you to prison today.”

Starbucks worker Mooney attacked the boy at his home over the weekend of January 10-11 this year.

Amersham Crown Court heard she started rubbing his thigh and kissing him while they watched a film.

Graham Smith, prosecuting, said: “He asked her to stop, which she did, before pretending she had been winding him up.

“She then sat on top of him, straddling him face to face. She then kissed him on the lips.

“He described it as open and closed mouth, but with no tongues. He didn’t feel like he wanted to kiss her back.”

Mooney later forced the boy to perform sex acts on her.

Two days later she messaged him saying: “You are fairly mature for your age and you’re not bad looking.

“I have got a really soft spot for you, babe. I think you have a hidden talent. I think you could handle me.”

Mooney initially claimed the boy had initiated the sexual activity but later admitted two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

It emerged today that she was attacked by an incensed family member of the boy at her home after the offences came to light.

The perpetrator, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was later convicted.

Sophie Murray, defending, said: “She has accepted her guilt. She is deeply shameful and guilt-ridden about what has happened.”

Mooney, of Milton Keynes, Bucks., was given a two-year suspended prison sentence and ordered to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

She was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning her from unsupervised contact with boys under the age of 16, and has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

October 2015

Female babysitter had sexual activity with 13-year-old boy

A babysitter has admitted persuading a 13-year-old boy to touch her sexually while they were sat on the sofa watching TV together.

Mary-Ellen Mooney, 18, had been babysitting at a family home when one of the child’s friends visited the house.

A judge heard that the young victim had gone to visit one of the children Mooney had been trusted to protect and care for while their parents had been away.

As they sat together watching TV, Mooney began making sexual suggestions and the pair started “cuddling.”

Mooney then grabbed hold of the young boy’s hand and “guided” it down to her genital area, placing his hand under her underwear.

Just days afterwards Mooney continued to pursue the boy, sending him Facebook messages describing what the pair could do if they were to meet again.

One or two days later there was a series of Facebook messages that “were clearly of a sexual nature.”

The court heard that members of the boy’s family had confronted Mooney following the allegations of her sexual behaviour and launched an assault in retaliation which was dealt with by police.

Judge Karen Holt said: “There have clearly been repercussions following the incident which was, of course, the assault by the boy’s family members.

“Members of the family clearly took matters into their own hands as feelings undoubtedly run high in cases such as this.

“She is 18 and of good character, he was 13. There was an abuse of trust as he had gone over to the house to see his friend.”

Mooney, a full time insurance sales operative, stood silently in the dock as she was told she would have to wear a curfew tag between 7pm and 6am until her sentencing hearing, due to happen on November 10.

Mooney, of Black Heath Cresent, Milton Keynes, has been told she faces jail.

Judge Holt at Aylesbury Crown Court told her: “This is a case that clearly passes the custody threshold and, although this is not certain, you must know that you could face a prison sentence following your offences which you have admitted.”