Too scared to go out after pupil sex texts

Jan 15 2009 by Ben Guy, The Journal

A TEACHER who sent vile sex texts to a 14-year-old boy was too ashamed and scared to leave home for a pre-sentence meeting with a probation officer, a court heard yesterday.

Lynn Walls should have attended the meeting so a report could be prepared after she admitted sending explicit messages to the teenager she met over an internet games site.

But the 42-year-old – since fired from her job at a County Durham primary school – never kept the appointment. She claimed members of the public were harassing her, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

And her adjourned sentencing hearing was told she had been scared to go outside.

“She has been too ashamed and frightened to leave the house,” said her barrister Andrew Finlay. “She was suffering panic attacks.

“Perhaps it is not surprising given she is 42 and of good character and suddenly this storm breaks on her.

“She has had very little support. Most of her friends when they found out about this offence dropped her and obviously she has been dismissed from her work. She has had to deal with this on her own.”

Walls, of Rose Street, Penshaw, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity during November 2007.

She made contact with the 14-year-old from London on a popular games site, began sending sex texts to his mobile and encouraged him to send explicit replies.

Walls was caught when the boy’s father found the messages and contacted the police.

Judge Guy Whitburn adjourned yesterday’s hearing and bailed Walls so a probation officer and a sex offender expert could make a home visit to prepare the essential reports.

But he branded the messages disgusting and warned prison may still follow.

“Obviously the court needs to know much more about why you did the wicked things you did in texting this 14-year-old boy,” he said. “It may well be you need help. In asking for reports I give no indication of the sentence.”

Judge Whitburn said a victim impact statement prepared by the teenager’s mother showed the messages had left a devastating impact.

Walls, who has already had to register as a sex offender, is now due to be sentenced in the week beginning February 9.

Parents at the school where she worked have called for an investigation.