Whangarei woman jailed for sex with boy appeals sentence

Amanda Campbell's lawyer says the starting point of five years for Campbell's jail sentence is too high. Photo / File

A Whangarei mother sent to jail for sexually abusing a boy and enabled him to frequently smoke cannabis has appealed her sentence.

In May, Amanda Campbell was sentenced in the Whangarei District Court to five years jail after she was found guilty following a judge-alone trial.

She was convicted on one charge of sexual connection with a young person between the ages of 12 and 16, one charge of permitting a house and another of permitting a vehicle to be used to smoke cannabis.

Campbell had sex 10 times with the boy, who was aged between 12 and 16, and also supplied him with a cannabis bong and a cellphone.

Her appeal in the High court at Whangarei was heard on Tuesday and Justice Mathew Downs indicated he would deliver his ruling by the end of the week.

Campbell's lawyer Catherine Cull argued the starting point of five years adopted by Judge Duncan Harvey in the District Court was too high.

She said a starting point of between three-and-a-half and four years was appropriate.

Ms Cull said she took issue with Judge Harvey's conclusion Campbell groomed the boy.

Crown prosecutor Sarah Barnaart said it was certainly open to the judge to find there was grooming because Campbell's intention was to gain the confidence and trust of the boy.