Woman ‘fell in love' with child in care and 'asked for love bite', trial hears

Yahoo

5 days ago

A WOMAN who worked in a care home 'fell in love' with a child who lived there and 'asked for a love bite from him', a court has heard.
The trial of Lindy Leah began today, Monday, at Liverpool Crown Court, where she is accused of being a person in a position of trust inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The 44-year-old, of Warrington, is also accused of 'inappropriate and improper behaviour' at her place of work in St Helens.
This allegedly included her 'wearing skintight and highly revealing clothing' in the child's presence, such as a 'bodysuit with no underwear' and a 'highly visible thong'.
Graham Pickavance, prosecuting, told jurors: 'The Crown says that this defendant incited and encouraged a teenager in the care of the local authority to engage in sexual activity with her.
'The complainant was placed there as he had challenging behaviour problems. The defendant was employed as his key worker.
'The defendant, back when she was interviewed, admitted that she fell in love with him, but the Crown says this was not just parental love offering care and support, but something going far beyond that.'
The trial heard that the complainant will not be giving evidence during the trial, and that he does not support the prosecution.
However, it was said that the behaviour of Leah was 'inappropriate according to the people who observed it'.
'A number of messages from her phone paint a picture of a relationship far removed from carer and child,' Mr Pickavance told the jury.
The trial heard that, when Leah took the boy's phone from him, she sent a message saying: 'You'll get it on Wednesday for a love bite.'
Jurors were told that the defendant worked as a deputy manager at the home, and the complainant was assessed as being a high risk of criminal exploitation by criminal gangs.
Lindy Leah is currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court
The court heard messages sent by Leah to the boy, suggesting she knew of his drug use, including ketamine and cannabis.
In one, jurors were told that she said: 'Bye, I hope you enjoy your ket session.'
In another, the trial heard that she said: 'You need to stop sniffing ket. I said I would buy you that tracksuit if you stopped for two weeks. You're going to kill yourself.'
The jury was told that concern was raised regarding the relationship between Leah and the complainant.
The trial heard that she was spoken to by Merseyside Police, when she denied any 'improper behaviour'.
Her mobile phone was taken and she was bailed, with conditions not to contact the complainant or visit the children's home, the court heard.
It was said that the phone was interrogated forensically, with Mr Pickavance telling jurors: 'The Crown's case is that this paints a completely different picture than what she was putting forward.'
Three or four weeks after being bailed, Leah and the boy were seen together at Walton Hall and Gardens in Warrington by someone who knew them both, with Leah arrested again, jurors were told.
Mr Pickavance told the jury of one incident of alleged 'unprofessional behaviour' noted by the youth justice team, involving the boy lying on Leah's bed at the children's home 'as if it was completely normal'.
The court heard that Leah said that he was 'comfortable and always did that'.
Jurors were also told that Leah 'wore skintight and highly revealing clothing', with alleged instances including a 'bodysuit with no underwear' and another alleged occasion of a 'highly visible thong'.
On one occasion, it was said that Leah said to the boy: 'Look, I've had a shower and not brought spare knickers.'
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The trial heard that Leah then pulled her bodysuit upwards, 'showing the outline of her vagina', while the boy could allegedly also 'see her nipples'.
Jurors were told that the boy's mother, who asked for help to deal with her son's 'out of control behaviour', was told by Leah that she was 'wrapped around her little finger' of the boy.
Leah was also said to have described the boy as 'gorgeous' and 'handsome', and that she 'loved him like one of her own', jurors heard.
The court heard evidence of messages exchanged between Leah and the complainant.
In one, jurors were told that Leah said: 'I hope I've not lost you to a s**g x,' to which the boy was reported to have said that she hadn't, also ending with a 'kiss'.
In another, Leah wrote: 'Are you and me over then? If you don't want me anymore, I'll have to get over it,' the trial heard, to which the complainant was said to have replied: 'I do.'
A further message, the court heard, saw the defendant say: "I love you so much. Can I book somewhere for you and me x," adding: "Red and silky with some balloons and flake."
Leah, represented by Rebecca Filletti, defending, appeared in the dock with her blonde hair up in a ponytail and wearing a black top.
She denies the charge of being a person in a position of trust inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
The defendant, of Capesthorne Road in Orford, will be tried by a jury of six men and six women, with the trial presided over by judge Brian Cummings.
The trial continues and is expected to last up to five days.