Married Jenine Saville-King, 29, was said to have had sex with the teenager in her car, home, hotel rooms and his mother's house.

Among the most damaging allegations was that she slept with him three days before giving birth to her first child.

Cleared: Jenine Saville-King

But a jury acquitted her after hearing the teenager was "manipulative" and had taken advantage of a vulnerable, bulimic woman.

He had lied about the support she gave him, first as his mentor at school and then as his friend.

Mrs Saville-King had denied seven charges of sex with a child and one of abuse of trust.

Despite the verdicts of not guilty, her teaching career was in ruins last night.

She left her job in the wake of the allegations and education experts said it was "extremely unlikely" any school would employ her because a check with the Criminal Records Bureau would show she had admitted an inappropriate relationship.

St Albans Crown Court heard that Mrs Saville-King sent the boy more than 6,000 messages over a six-month period, including 131 in one day.

One said: "I don't think I have ever loved anyone as much as I love you." Another read: "I dream of being far away from here with you and baby and starting again."

Speaking after the case, she called the boy's allegations "boastful fantasies and dishonest, spiteful untruths".

But she admitted: "I made a terrible mistake in allowing myself to become so intensely involved in the emotional and personal problems of this boy.

Live-in lovers: The boy, now 18, arrives at court with his girlfriend

"I allowed a situation to develop which he could distort and misrepresent to such a grotesque degree.

"But we are talking here about a boy with very real problems and behavioral issues. This became very evident during the trial. He needs help and attention, and I hope this will be provided for him."

Her husband Paul, 37, said: "This is the woman I love. I know her better than anyone. I have never doubted her."

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was "surprised" at the verdict. Now 18, he revealed that he is planning to marry a 37-year-old mother of three with whom he is living.

During the two-week trial, the court heard that Mrs Saville-King joined the Watford school as a teaching assistant in January.

She was swiftly promoted to assistant year leader, then mentor to struggling pupils and later business studies teacher.

It was after she started mentoring the teenager that they began texting each other.

The boy claimed their affair lasted 15 months. He said they first met outside school in mid-2004 and indulged in "hundreds" of sex acts before having full intercourse once he turned 16.

Mrs Saville-King - a blond who switched to brunette before the trial - admitted the relationship was "inappropriate" and that she might have fallen in love with the boy but insisted they never slept together.

She said: "He was nice to me and I liked the attention."

Jenine Saville-King with husband Paul, 37

Friends have been shocked by her admissions but described her as a vulnerable character swept away by the boy's flattery.

One of three children of a company manager, she was "bubbly and popular" as a pupil at Parmiter's School in Garston.

But school friends said they suspected she was plagued with self doubt and already suffering from bulimia. One said: "I never saw her eat and I don't remember her ever having a boyfriend at school."

By 2001, she was working as a purchasing administrator for an engineering firm where she met her husband, an operations manager.

Three years later she joined the school, where teenage boys became besotted with her.

The court heard she was twice told off for dressing "provocatively" at the school, once in a tight skirt which showed she was wearing a thong.

Mrs Saville-King told the jury she began meeting the teenager, known as a trouble-maker, to help him with
his work, Later meetings came when he threatened to commit suicide or expose their friendship - he once demanded to stay silent.

The boy made his formal allegations in 2005, after he left the school.

He claimed Mrs Saville-King had become jealous of the woman he now plans to marry after they met at a supermarket where he worked. He said the teacher began "loitering" in the store.

Police were called in and DNA tests were taken which established that Mrs Saville-King's husband was the father of her baby - their second child was born last month.

But the allegations led to the teacher, who now lives in Hook, Hampshire, being arrested in February 2006.

Last night the boy revealed that he and his new partner had become engaged before Christmas.

He added: "We're very happy. It's been a tough time and I just want to forget all about the whole thing."

His fiancee said: "We don't think about the age gap. When I put my make-up on you don't really notice it."

MEMBERS COMMENTS