A female teacher jailed for almost four years for kissing and groping a 14-year-old boy.

Katie Smith, 28, pleaded guilty to grooming a minor for unlawful sexual activity and sexually touching an underage teen.

Smith, from the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, admitted to sending explicit photos to the teen.

She also sent messages to the teen as she groomed him on Snapchat. The boy also sent X-rated pics to her.

Smith also admitted to kissing the boy in a storeroom and a car park. In the two encounters, she touched him intimately outside his clothing.

But the relationship between the pair came to an end after Smith found her photos circulating the school.

Later, the boy told his mom about the interactions. The mom then contacted the police, who arrested Smith.

By the time officers went to her home Smith had contacted the boy, telling him to delete her number as they would get in trouble.

During her trial, Smith told the court she never wanted to have sex with the boy. Instead, she was seeking validation amid problems in her marriage.

She also said she faced insecurities over her appearance. So, she just wanted someone to tell her she was 'pretty.'

She added that she would often cry as she looked at herself in the mirror. Due to low self-esteem, she would 'do anything and everything to get attention.'

Sentencing Judge Kara Shead acknowledged Smith suffered from a borderline personality disorder and was pursuing a course of therapy.

But she added that Smith's conduct had been a serious breach of trust. Smith also violated the 'absolute prohibition on sexual activity with a child.'

Shead also said the justice system needed to send a 'stern message' that sexual crimes involving teachers and minors weren't acceptable.

However, she said Smith was unlikely to re-offend and had 'reasonable prospects' in terms of her therapy.

The judge then sentenced Smith to three years and 10 months in jail with a non-parole period of two years and three months.

In most Australian states, the legal age of sexual consent is 16. In South Australia and Tasmania, it is 17.

The law states that kids lack the decision-making capacity to consent to sexual activity with an adult below this age. Even if the minor claims the encounter was consensual.

Despite the age of consent, some laws prohibit an adult person from engaging in sexual relations with a child.

For instance, it's an offense for a person to engage in sex with a person who's under their special care. Such as a teacher.