Teacher jailed for underage sex

A former Tasmanian teacher has been jailed for a minimum of two years for having sexual contact with five male students in their early teens.

Sarah Jayne Vercoe, 25, appeared in the Tasmanian Supreme Court for sentencing. Justice Shan Tennent described the woman's crimes as "predatory".

Vercoe, who was married, admitted having a two month sexual relationship with a 15-year-old.

She also engaged in sex, or sex acts, with four other boys - aged 14, 15 and two aged 16 - whom she took to her home in Hobart.

Vercoe was sentenced to four years in jail, with 18 months of the term suspended.

Outside the court, the boys' families and sex abuse campaigners criticised the sentence, saying it was too light.