A Napier mother has been jailed after having sex with two of her 15-year-old son's friends.
Paula Devine, 46, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail in Napier District Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to two charges of having sexual connection with a young person. Devine, who ran a Vesta's Circle holistic therapies store in Napier before it closed recently, had sex with a 15-year-old about twice a week from July 10 to August 10.
Her Napier home was used as a gathering place for her son and his friends, the police summary stated.
She would wait until the other children in the house were in bed asleep and then summon the boy to her room.
Devine then texted another of her son's friends, telling him about her relations with the boy, and offering to have sex with him.
This led to her having a sexual connection with the 14-year-old on two occasions.
Police became aware of the sexual relationship when they found text messages from the youngest victim's cellphone while investigating an unrelated matter.
According to a summary of facts, Devine told police she "gave in to the persistent requests of the boys even though she was aware of their age".
Devine started the Vesta's Circle business in July 2010. She specialised in New Age forms of therapy including Reiki and tarot readings.