A Jehova 's witness who had sex with a schoolboy was caught out when the child ’ s suspicious mother hid a tape recorder in his bedroom . Mother-of-two Kelly Richards admitted having sex with the 15-year-old during a three-month affair but was spared prison by a judge yesterday . The 36-year-old met the boy after he befriended one of her sons at church and she invited the teenager to her home for sleepovers with her children . Kelly Jane Richards , 36 , was spared jail despite being described as having groomed the 15-year-old boy by inviting him to her home after meeting him at their Jehovah 's Witness Church . During their encounters , Richards had told the boy : ‘ Don ’ t tell anyone because I might get done for this. ’ But their relationship was uncovered after the teenager ’ s mother placed a tape recorder in her son ’ s bedroom to discover why he had started hiding his mobile phone and why he was spending so much time with the Richards family . After the tape recordings revealed explicit phone conversations between Richards and the boy , his mother called in police . The boy admitted to officers that Richards had had sex with him , giving him alcohol , asking him for massages and ‘ leading me on ’ . Prosecutor Roger Griffiths told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court the pair had sex after Richards had an argument with her husband , Paul . He said : ‘ Mrs Richards was in her bedroom crying and [ the boy ] went into the room to comfort her . The woman was given a suspended two year prison sentence at court today . Prosecutors told of how she told the 15-year-old that she loved him during one of their exchanges . ‘ The boy and Mrs Richards ’ son went in to stop her from crying and were supportive . But her son left and Richards started kissing the boy which led to full sexual intercourse . ‘ Mrs Richards was in her nightie , the boy was in his clothes…It was over very quickly. ’ The pair then began talking on the phone and over Facebook . The court was told the boy ’ s housebound mother became suspicious about her son ’ s contact with Richards and took away his mobile . But Richards gave the boy a new SIM card and he was able to carry on the calls and texts on a different phone . Mr Griffiths said : ‘ There were also suggestions of leaving home when he was 16 – which greatly upset his mother. ’ Richards , of Mountain Ash , South Wales , sobbed as she admitted one count of sexual activity with a child between October and December 2012 . The mother of two hid her face as she arrived at court today . Among letters attesting to her 'good character ' that were submitted was one by written by her husband . Sarah Waters , defending , said Richards had been looking after the vulnerable 15-year-old because the Jehovah ’ s Witness community were asked to look after each other . She said : ‘ She took him out with her family to go shopping and ice skating and do all the things a young boy wants to do with a family . ‘ Their relationship obviously developed into something it shouldn ’ t have. ’ Judge Richard Twomlow told Richards her victim was ‘ vulnerable ’ and she had ‘ developed a strong influence over him ’ . Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court ( above ) heard glowing character statements written by the Jehovah 's Witness community . He told her : ‘ Despite the fact you knew his age you had sexual intercourse with him at your home . That happened after a period of what might be described as grooming . ‘ When you were arrested you denied any sexual relationship . You did plead guilty , although on the day of your trial. ’ Judge Twomlow told Richards he had decided ‘ with some hesitation ’ not to send her to jail . Richards was sentenced to a two-year suspended jail term and a sexual offences prevention order . She will also have to sign on to the sex offenders ’ register for ten years . Among letters attesting to her ‘ good character ’ was one written by her carpenter husband of 13 years , Paul , 34 . He helped her cover her face as she arrived at court for yesterday ’ s hearing . The pair hugged following the sentencing and he is understood to be standing by his wife .
Kelly Jane Richards met the teenager at their local church in South Wales . She invited 'vulnerable ' boy to her family home for sleepover with children . But after arguing with her husband the pair had sex on her marital bed . They began talking on the phtwo to the concern of the boy 's own mother . Richards , 36 , told the 15-year-old that she loved him in two exchange . She was spared jail by a judge at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today .