A former primary school teaching assistant who sexually abused a 10-year-old boy has been jailed for eight years.
Paedophile Denise Povall, from Ripon, groomed her victim with presents and sent him texts so she could carry out her campaign of abuse.
The detective who led the investigation described her sustained offending as “evil”.
She had sexual intercourse with the child and performed sex acts on a number of occasions, North Yorkshire Police said after she was sentenced.
The offences took place in the 2000s when she worked at a school in the Harrogate area.
Povall, now 61, continued to deny any offending but was convicted following a trial at York Crown Court.
Her victim came forward in adulthood and complained to the police about what he endured as a primary school pupil, leading to what the force called “an extensive investigation into the teaching assistant and midday supervisor”.
That led to her being charged with a number of serious offences including grooming, inciting sex with a child, inciting sexual activity with a child and sexual assault by touching.
A jury convicted her of all the charges.
She was jailed for eight years today (Friday) and will sign the sex offenders’ register when she is released.
Outside court, Detective Constable Alison Morris, who led the investigation, said: “This has been a long and extensive investigation into some of the most serious types of offences we encounter as detectives.
“What we uncovered can only be described as evil and sustained sexual abuse of a young child by a paedophile.
“Povall has taken absolutely no accountability for the damage she has done to her victim’s life, so I’m glad we’ve been able to help the victim secure some sort of closure.
“He’s been incredibly brave coming forward, especially given the common misconception that women don’t commit these sorts of crimes.”
DC Morris added: “Due to the way paedophiles such as Povall groom, manipulate and control their victims, we know child sexual abuse is under-reported.
“So I want anyone who thinks they may have been sexually assaulted – no matter how long ago it happened – to know they can come forward.”