Woman who 'groomed' and sexually abused boy jailed

A woman who "groomed" and repeatedly sexually abused a teenage boy has been jailed for more than nine years.

Tracy Bancroft abused the boy when she was aged in her late 40s or early 50s after giving him alcohol and cigarettes, York Crown Court heard.

Bancroft, 64, who initially disputing his age at the time, admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child.

At the court on Tuesday, Bancroft, from Filey, North Yorkshire, was placed on the sex-offenders' register for life and was sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.

Prosecutor Michael Morley said that on the first occasion, Bancroft had given the victim "two drinks of strong rum" before kissing him.

He told the court the child "froze" as Bancroft continued.

"He was stunned. He said he had frozen and remained shocked for a few days," Morley added.

According to the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, he was abused by Bancroft on "at least" 20 other occasions.

The boy approached police in 2023, with Bancroft arrested in March 2024.

She was charged with eight sexual offences against the boy, which she initially denied, in January 2025.

In September, Bancroft pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child, accepting it had occurred on at least nine occasions.

Two other counts will lie on file, the court heard, with not guilty verdicts recorded by the judge on the three remaining charges.

In a statement read out by the victim's mother in court, she called Bancroft a "predator" who had taken advantage of her son.

She said the abuse had had a profound effect on her son, who was now "emotionally wrecked".

Defence solicitor Derek Foley said there is "little that can be said and certainly nothing that can excuse or even explain" her actions.

He said Bancroft was "alcohol dependent and drinking heavily, and it was in that context that she took advantage of a young child".

He added she felt a "deep shame" for what she had done, adding: "She doesn't leave the house.

"She has become a recluse. She does recognise the enormity of her offending."

Judge Simon Hickey told Bancroft: "Clearly, you now recognise that what you have done has caused immeasurable harm.

"There's certainly an element of grooming here."

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