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TENNIS COACH JAILED FOR SEX
WITH TEENAGER |
Female tennis coach jailed for
sexually abusing teenaged girl
5 November, 2007
A female tennis coach in the United
Kingdom who sexually abused a girl
aged 13 has been imprisoned for two
years and nine months. The girl was a
pupil of the Lawn Tennis Association
academy.
Claire Lyte, 29, who has been honored
with the title Young Coach of the Year
in 2001, however, denied four counts
of sexual activity with the teenaged
girl. But the judge reprimanded her
for having lied to avoid conviction.
Claire Lyte has also been banned from
working with children and made to sign
the sex offenders’ register.
Judge Gilmour QC, of the Liverpool
Crown Court, the United Kingdom,
observed that said Claire Lyte’s
attempts to conceal the affair by
accusing the girl’s family of
conspiring against her were “wicked.”
The judge added that “there was not,
and never has been, such a conspiracy”
and charged Claire Lyte’s parents,
Colin and Gillian, with lying.
Judge Gilmour told Claire Lyte, “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.”
Claire Lyte would appeal against the
conviction, her solicitor said.
The family of the victim, hailing from
Merseyside, found out about the sexual
relationship between the coach and the
girl when the mother caught her
daughter and Claire Lyte in bed
together.
During the trial, the jury was told
that the girl's mother caught Claire
Lyte performing oral sex on the child.
Claire had also worn the child’s
knickers.
Claire Lyte had been convicted by 10-2
majority verdicts by the jury,
consisting of eight women and four
men, who took nearly 12 hours to reach
their decision.
The teenager, who cannot be
identified, had a bright tennis
future, the jurors were told.
According to media reports, Claire
Lyte, of Shirley, Solihull, began a
sexual relationship with the girl
after they met at a tennis academy at
Loughborough University. Claire slept
in the same room as her victim while
attending tournaments.
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