Woman posed as man to have sex with teenage girls

Jennifer Staines set up social media profiles using the name Jason in order to contact the three girls, who were between 12 and 17

Jennifer Staines used the name Jason on social media profiles (Avon and Somerset Police)

A woman pretended to be a man and used a rubber penis to trick teenage girls into having sex with her.

Jennifer Staines was sentenced to 39 months in prison after admitting she set up social media profiles using the name Jason in order to contact the girls, who were aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the offences.

In one case, the relationship lasted more than a year.

Bristol Crown Court heard police found a rubber penis and incriminating DNA at Staines' home, and that the 23-year-old would use condoms when sleeping with the girls.

She pleaded guilty to sexual assault and two counts of possessing indecent photos of one victim. She also admitted two sexual assaults on a second victim and three sexual assaults on a third.

According to the Bristol Post, Judge Barry Cotter QC told her: "You planned carefully to deceive.

"You did everything to ensure you had the ability to engage in relationships in which they believed you were a gender you were not.

"I can't determine whether it was for love, love and sex, or just sex."

Investigating officer Detective Constable Nadine Partridge said: “Jennifer Staines deceived and manipulated her victims into believing she was a young man which is an appalling breach of trust.

“Her actions were driven by her own selfish desires and although her victims “consented” to sexual activity with her, they were deceived about the true nature of what they were engaging in.

“The manipulation was so extreme that one of her victims still struggles to believe she was actually in a relationship with a woman, not a man.

“The victims and their families have been through a traumatic ordeal and they’ve found the courage to support the police investigation from the outset. I hope this outcome will help them move on with their lives.

“I believe there may be more victims out there so I’d encourage anyone who feels they may have been contacted by Jennifer Staines, posing as Jason, to come forward and speak to us. We’re here to listen, believe and support you.”

Last year, a woman was jailed for eight years after pretending to be a man in order to trick her female friend into having sex with her.

Gayle Newland put on a deep voice and used a prosthetic penis and a blindfold over almost a dozen sexual encounters during their two-year relationship.