A mother-of-four has been ordered to pay compensation to a child she incited to engage in sexual activity.

Frances Schneider, of Trumper Road in Stevenage, sent photographs of her breasts and vagina via Facebook Messenger to a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He told his mother and she called the police, who found indecent images and explicit messages from 32-year-old Schneider on the boy’s phone.

The message content included: ‘Are you horny?’ and ‘Are you touching yourself?’.

The boy, who is currently sitting his GCSEs, did not consent to Schneider’s attention.

She was arrested in November and pleaded not guilty to the offence, but changed her plea to guilty four days before she was due to stand trial last month.

Schneider, who was sentenced at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court last week, was ordered to pay £200 compensation, as well as a £60 victim surcharge.

She must also pay a £100 fine and Crown Prosecution Service costs of £85.

Schneider - whose four children are all in foster care, or care of family members - has been given a five-year sexual harm prevention order, which restricts her association with children and with internet use.

She has also been given an 18-month community order, must register with police for five years and must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.