Top lesbian tennis coach 'found in bed with girl of 13'

By LIZ HULL
Last updated at 14:53 03 October 2007

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Accused: Claire Lyte denies any sexual contact

A top woman tennis coach was caught in bed with a 13-year-old girl after starting a lesbian affair with the child star, a court heard yesterday.

Claire Lyte, 29, allegedly took advantage of the youngster while coaching her at one of the Lawn Tennis Association's academies for talented children.

The relationship was revealed when the girl's mother found her daughter and Lyte naked in bed together, a jury was told.

Lyte, who is accused of sexual activity with a child, denies any sexual contact with the girl, who was described as one of the leading tennis talents of her age.

Instead, she claims the girl's 'ambitious and pushy' mother concocted the allegations to spite her when her daughter failed to reach her potential and left the Loughborough academy.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the girl became infatuated with Lyte and sent her intimate text messages, claiming she loved and wanted to marry the blonde coach.

She wrote a love 'contract' to Lyte, referring to herself as the coach's 'babyface' and promising to love her for ever.

Her feelings, the jury were told, were reciprocated. Lyte and the girl shared hotel rooms when away at tournaments and were seen using the same toilet cubicle.

Lyte even started wearing the girl's clothes and adopted her 'style', the court heard.

Peter Davies, prosecuting, said: "The relationship between coach and student transcended the boundaries of a normal coach-player relationship.

"The defendant was attracted to the girl and it seems that the attraction between adult and teenager became mutual.

"Instead of realising the true implications of the situation and maintaining a professional approach, the defendant took advantage of the difference in years and maturity and fostered a relationship with the pupil."

The court heard that Lyte is a former professional tennis player who played at Wimbledon and reached 101 in the world rankings.

When she was forced to retire through injury, she became a coach at the LTA's Loughborough academy for aspiring tennis stars, and was named LTA young coach of the year in 2001.

The court heard that the affair began in May 2005, six months after the girl started being coached by Lyte at the centre.

It was allegedly discovered in October 2005 when the girl's mother came home unexpectedly early from a party one Sunday afternoon and caught her daughter and Lyte in bed together.

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Top tennis coach: Claire Lyte is accused of having an affair with a 13-year-old girl

Yesterday, the jury was shown a recording of the girl's interview with police.

She sobbed as she said: "My mum came back and we did something that shouldn't have happened.

"I don't know what to call it. It was something sexual."

Mr Davies said that according to the girl, a consensual sex act took place.

When her mother arrived home, she noticed two pairs of trainers at the top of the stairs.

She went to the girl's bedroom where she found them in bed together engaged in a sex act.

"There followed lengthy arguments between them, during which the defendant said she cared for and was in love with the girl," said Mr Davies.

Instead of reporting Lyte to police over the alleged incident, the girl's mother allowed her daughter to continue her training at the academy.

She made a formal complaint only ten months later, in August 2006, after Lyte told her that her daughter's tennis career was not progressing.

Police searched Lyte's home and discovered a pair of the girl's knickers, with traces of the coach's DNA on them.

They also found a love 'contract' in the girl's handwriting hidden in Lyte's bedroom.

In the document, the girl pledged to: "Never be with anyone else. Never lie to you again. Always be here for you.

"Always be your babyface. Be a good baby, not a bad one. Try hard when I'm on court.

"Be with you for ever. Never let you go. Never lose you. Do chores in our little house when we get one.

"Look after you and love you for ever and just be with you."

The girl told police Lyte took the lead in the relationship and she was frightened to speak out because it might have jeopardised her tennis coaching.

Asked what she thought of the affair, the girl added: "It was wrong. I'm too little, too young. She should have known better."

Interviewed by police, Lyte, from Shirley, near Solihull, West Midlands, denied the affair.

She claimed she was heterosexual and that the girl's mother made up the allegations to get her sacked because her daughter's tennis career was faltering.

Lyte denies five counts of sexual activity with a child between May 2005 and June last year.

The case continues.