Girl was ‘caught in bed with female coach’

A TEENAGE girl yesterday told a court she had a sexual relationship with her female tennis coach when she was aged just 13.

The alleged victim, then a pupil at the Lawn Tennis Association Academy, was found by her mother in bed with coach Claire Lyte, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Lyte, 29, of Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, denies five counts of unlawful sexual activity with a child.

The trial heard Lyte and the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found together in bed by the girl’s mother following a two-day tennis tournament in October 2005.

In her police interview, the youngster told how Lyte had driven her to her Merseyside home from the tournament.

After having a shower, the girl said she found Lyte in her bedroom.

She said: “I don’t know how to say it.

“It was something we shouldn’t have been doing.”

Asked by the officer if Lyte knew what they were doing was wrong, the child replied: “Yeah.

“I was scared of saying anything.

“Tennis wasn’t working out and I was scared of what would happen if I said something.”

Peter Davies, prosecuting, said: “The relationship between coach and student transcended the bounds of a normal relationship.

“And despite repeated warnings the defendant continued.”

Mr Davies said following Lyte’s discovery in bed with the girl, a row ensued between the two adults.

He said the girl’s mother continued to allow her daughter to be coached by Lyte and it was not until March the following year that she made an official complaint to police.

Mr Davies said the mother decided not to report Lyte in part because of her daughter’s strong feelings for the tennis coach.

Lyte’s defence will argue the allegations are all untrue and malicious.

The case continues today.