A middle-aged mother who had sex with a 15-year-old schoolboy today spoke of her regret and said: "I never meant it to happen."

Michelle Bougourd, 41, is facing a possible jail sentence after admitting three charges of sexual activity with a child, last August.

The court was told her conduct had caused ill-feeling in the local community around her home in Cloverhill Road, Nelson, and she has been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

But today the mother of a 10-year-old boy said the offences were committed while she was going through a divorce and said she had been drinking heavily and taking drugs for depression at the time.

Bougourd, originally from Guernsey, will be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court next month and is on bail while a pre-sentence report is compiled.

She said: "I never meant for it to happen. I was going through a divorce and it was very difficult. I was drinking heavily and I was on lots of drugs for my depression and it just happened one day, although he hadn't been drinking.

"It was a huge mistake and I wish I hadn't done it, not least for my son's sake.

"I am ashamed with myself but I wasn't in my right mind at the time. We have been hounded for what's happened so I am moving away.

"I just want to be able to get on with my life again and forget it ever happened. People will say that it's disgusting."

Bougourd was warned by Judge Christopher Cornwall that all sentencing options would be open to the court, including custody.

She was told not to contact directly or indirectly the victim and she is not allowed to go within 100 metres of a named address and high school in the Nelson area, except to attend her solicitors by pre-arranged appointment.

Mark Rhind, defending, said Bougourd felt under great pressure as a result of her admissions.

The barrister, who unsuccessfully urged the court to order a psychological report, said at the time of the offences the defendant was having some difficulties with her own mental health and well-being.

DC Neil Morris, from Nelson CID, said it had been a sensitive case but he was delighted with the outcome.

He said: "The new Sexual Offences Act, which came in 2003 was brought in to protect children of any sex and this falls into that category."