A TEACHING assistant has been jailed for having sex with a schoolboy - then claiming she was pregnant when he tried to end things with her.

Fatinah Hossain groomed the 14-year-old after becoming infatuated with him while working at a school in Horsham.

She also used fake social media accounts, posing as a 14-year-old girl in an attempt to manipulate other children.

The 25-year-old appeared at Brighton Crown Court where she admitted sexual activity with the boy while in a position of trust.

Hossain, who also admitted perverting the course of justice, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.

The Argus: Fatinah Hossain who had sexual relationship with school pupil, 14, jailed Fatinah Hossain who had sexual relationship with school pupil, 14, jailed

Judge Jeremy Gold QC said Hossain had “embarked on quite a remarkable campaign of harassment”.

He said it was “relentless, wide-ranging and malicious” and followed the “persistent nature of penetrative activity over time”.

Hossain was first arrested in June 2020 following a report that she had sex with the boy while working as a study supervisor and cover teacher.

Sussex Police said the sexual relationship continued for "several months" after this.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Leigh Rankin said: “During which she continued to manipulate the boy's emotions, including claiming that she was pregnant after he had tried to end the relationship."

After Hossain was released on bail, she launched a “prolonged and complex campaign of behaviour against them in an attempt to derail the investigation and avoid justice” targetting the victim as well as his friends and family.

DC Rankin said: "Using fake social media accounts Hossain attempted to manipulate other children, with threats being made against at least one other child should they speak to the police.

“Through fake names she made significant threats of harm to the boy and his family and said she’d pay him to ‘drop the charges’.”

Hossain was charged in October 2020 and bailed, going on to create a number of fake social media accounts under different names, including that of a 14-year-old girl.

“Using this particular account, she fabricated messages between her and an adult family member of the boy,” DC Rankin added.

"She then used these fake accounts in an attempt to have the family member lose his job. She then went on to make multiple false reports to the police from further false accounts in attempt to get the adult family member arrested.

"Hossain continued to attempt to make false reports to police until March 2021, when evidence was received to show that all the allegations against the family were falsified by her. This led to her being further charged and remanded until she was convicted.”

DC Rankin said he is glad police were able to end the “distressing campaign”.

“We are glad that justice has now been done for the boy and the several other people who became entrapped in Hossain's web of lies and manipulation,” he added.

Hossain, of Dutchells Copse, Horsham, will be a registered sex offender indefinitely and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years after she is released from prison.

She has also been issued with a restraining order to last indefinitely, prohibiting her from any contact with the victim and several other people, and from entering specified areas of Horsham.