Sexually abusing a teenage girl.

A 20-year-old woman has been jailed for 18 months for sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Lucy Wilding, of Southey Street in Bootle, targeted her victim over several months after grooming her on Snapchat. This included sending her a "manipulative" video, in which she asked the youngster to "be her girlfriend" by spelling these words out in love hearts.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Wilding engaged in sex acts with the teenager on dozens of occasions. Wilding was 18 when she met the girl in Liverpool city centre in early 2023.

The two began exchanging messages on Snapchat and started meeting up in the spring. The 14-year-old girl would stay overnight at Wilding's home and sleep in the same bed with her.

Wilding touched the teen sexually on at least 20 occasions, with the victim reciprocating these acts on at least four occasions. Wilding knew the victim's age "from the outset", but claimed she was 17 to others.

The victim's mother became aware of their relationship during the summer of 2023 and warned Wilding to cease contact. However, Wilding continued to contact her daughter "using fake social media accounts" and the mother informed the police.

Wilding admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child and two charges of inciting sexual activity with a child. She was jailed for 18 months and handed a sexual harm prevention order, a notification requirement, and a restraining order, all lasting 10 years.

Judge Katherine Pierpoint said, "She was a child. While you yourself were relatively young, you were an adult. You should have stopped and you should not have carried on seeing her, but you did."

Wilding turned to the public gallery and said "I love yous all" to her sobbing supporters as she was led down to the cells.