Care worker had sexual relationship with boy at children's home she 'fell in love' with, donning skimpy outfits and letting him sleep in her bed, court hears
Lindy Leah, 44, 'fell in love' with a teenage patient having been assigned as his key worker, it was revealed at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday.
The accused, who was deputy manager of the home in St Helens, also sported inappropriate clothing and asked the boy to give her 'a love bite'.
She told detectives interviewing her after her arrest that she 'denied any improper behaviour'.
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant, by her own admission, admitted that she fell in love with him.
'But the crown say that it was not simply parental love, but something that went far beyond that and was physical love.'
The teenager 'does not support the prosecution' but colleagues at the home described 'inappropriate' behaviour from Leah, who is from Warrington, as well as 'unprofessional interventions which prevented [the boy] from being challenged about his behaviour'.
He was spotted lying in Leah's bed at the care home 'as if it was completely normal'.
The court heard that the defendant had said: 'He's comfortable. He always does that. No one else has a problem.'
Video footage retrieved in a Merseyside Police investigation also showed the boy asleep in her carer's bed.
Leah was also said to have 'worn skin tight and highly revealing clothing' around the teenager.
These included a bodysuit with no underwear, as well as a 'highly visible thong'.
The trial, before Brian Cummings KC, heard the care home deputy manager pulled up her bodysuit at one point to show her nipples which were said to be 'highly visible' at the time.
She then allegedly said: 'I've had a shower but forgot to bring clean knickers.'
The boy's mother reportedly 'grew more concerned' the longer her son stayed at the institution, with Leah apparently telling her the teenager 'had her wrapped around his little finger', describing him as 'gorgeous and handsome'.
Mr Pickavance said a slew of texts between the pair 'painted a picture of a relationship far removed from a carer and child'.
A message from Leah on one phone which had been confiscated from the boy said: 'I'll give it you on Wednesday for a love bite.'
In another, she told him 'proper paranoid' that she had 'lost him to a slag' before stating: 'If you never met me then your life would be better. I miss you so much.
'All I want is for me and you to have a night away from everyone, just us. So if I wake up from these tablets and wine, then we will.'
She added: 'Do you wanna go MSC [missing from care]? I love you so much. Can I book somewhere for me and you on Friday?
'Red and silky with some balloons and flake. Make sure you get your arse home tonight so you can go missing from care with me without there being meetings.'
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, told the court that 'balloons' was a 'colloquial term' for the class C drug nitrous oxide.
In a further message, Leah told the teen: 'Just listened to a song and it made me cry. Stupid love songs. It made me think of you, then it made me cry. I won't be listening to that again. Add me back on Instagram now.
'Why you took me off it? I get paranoid. I find it hard to trust you. I'm just scared you're still talking to her and going to see her. I just can't bear catching you out again. What's the point, because you know I'll find out? I hate her.'
Leah was meanwhile said to have promised to buy the boy a tracksuit if he 'stop sniffing ket' for two weeks.
But, in a further message, she told him: 'What you've done to me is vile. The worst thing is you, you don't even give a f***. You got what you wanted.'
After being interviewed by detectives, the carer was released on bail under the condition not to get in touch with the teenager.
But weeks later the pair were seen together by a fellow care worker next to a white Audi car at Walton Hall and gardens in Warrington.
Leah is represented by Rebecca Filletti and denies one count of being a person in a position of trust causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The trial continues.
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