Female tennis coach jailed for abusing pupil

A FEMALE tennis coach was jailed yesterday for two years and nine months for sexually abusing a 13-year-old pupil.

Claire Lyte, 29, was convicted last month on four counts of sexual activity with a pupil at the Lawn Tennis Association Academy at Loughborough University in England.

At the two-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Nigel Gilmour criticised Lyte for lying in order to try and avoid going to jail.

“In attempting to escape conviction you alleged that three generations of the victim’s family were all part of a wicked conspiracy to get you convicted of crimes you hadn’t committed,” he said.

“The girl’s family expected you to look after her and she was entrusted in your care. You corrupted that girl and advanced her experiences of sexual matters by some years.

“You welcomed her attention and encouraged it and then manipulated what had become her infatuation with you and did that for your own selfish sexual ends,” he added.

The court was told how the girl’s mother caught Lyte performing a sex act on the child, and how the coach wore her pupil’s underwear.

Lyte, who denied any sexual activity with the teenager, is required to sign the Sex Offenders Register and is banned from ever working with children.