Yahoo News Emmerdale finally confirms Maya Stepney's fate
Emmerdale has confirmed that Maya Stepney is heading to prison.
The schemer's comeuppance finally arrived in Thursday's first episode (June 20), as a judge handed down a 12-month jail sentence as punishment for her crime.
Maya (Louisa Clein) had already pleaded guilty to sending inappropriate texts to Jacob when he was 15, hoping this would mean she'd receive a more lenient sentence.
The disgraced schoolteacher wasn't facing more serious charges for her abuse of Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) as the schoolboy had refused to give any evidence against her.
Although Jacob's family had feared that Maya would walk away as a free woman, it was decided in court that she'd face a jail sentence.
The judge said: "Your job as a teacher placed you in the highest position of trust over the pupils in your care. Your relationship with Jacob was already compromised by the fact that you were in a serious relationship with his father.
"Rather than maintain boundaries between home and school, you betrayed your employer, your partner and the young man at the centre of this, who was 15 years old when the sexual communication took place.
"So I am in no doubt that this case passes the custody threshold and while I give credit for the guilty plea, I sentence you to 12 months immediate imprisonment."
Maya's sentence is likely to receive a mixed response from Jacob's family, who'll be relieved that she's heading to prison but frustrated that it's not for longer.
Jacob, meanwhile, will be distraught that his plans to run away with Maya and start a new life have yet again been thwarted.
Emmerdale continues on ITV at 8pm tonight (June 20) as the repercussions from the court's decision are revealed.
Barnardo's protects, supports and nurtures the UK's most vulnerable children and young people.
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 (www.nspcc.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline on (1-800-422-4453) or the American SPCC (www.americanspcc.org).
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