Caitlin Hutchinson, 21, jailed for four years for grooming young boy

Caitlin Hutchinson, a 21-year-old from Sunderland, has been sentenced to four years in prison for grooming and sexually assaulting a young boy over several months. Hutchinson sent sexually explicit messages to the victim and coerced him into performing sexual acts. The abuse was uncovered when the boy confided in his parents, leading to Hutchinson's arrest, during which she initially claimed the boy had forced himself on her. The victim described the lasting emotional toll of the abuse, stating that he now struggles with anxiety and depression, and feels his childhood has been irreparably damaged. In addition to her prison sentence, Hutchinson has been placed on the sex offenders register and issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, prohibiting her from contacting children under 16. The case highlights the serious impact of sexual exploitation on young victims.