A married care worker "fell in love with" a boy at the children's home where she was employed, a court has heard. Lindy Leah faces trial at Liverpool Crown Court, charged with "highly inappropriate behaviour" towards a teenage resident at the St Helens care home where she served as deputy manager. The 44-year-old is accused of wearing "skin tight and highly revealing" clothing" around the boy, including a bodysuit without underwear and "visible thongs".
The married mother-of-two, who denies a charge of being a person in a position of trust causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity also allegedly offered to return his mobile phone in exchange for "a love bite". Prosecutor Simon Christie said: "This case concerns what the crown say is a serious and persistent breach of trust", LiverpoolEcho reported. "Lindy Leah, by her own admission, fell in love with him. But the crown say this went beyond the sort of parental love that offers care and support, and it became something more physical and inappropriate. The boy] will not be giving evidence to you in this case. He does not support the prosecution. So what we have are the observations of some of those adults who witnessed Lindy Leah interact with [the boy] and who will say her behaviour was often highly inappropriate.
"In addition, we have the downloads of many messages between the two of them, principally from WhatsApp, that paint a picture of a relationship far removed from key worker and child. There are many expressions of love in the WhatsApp messages. There is an occasion when the defendant, Lindy Leah, had taken [the boy's] phone. She tells him how he can have it back. 'I'll give it you Wednesday for a love bite'.".
It was also claimed she had video footage of the teenager while he was "asleep or in bed" stored on her mobile phone. Mr Christie added: "Whether you find, cumulatively, what was going was sexual is a matter for you. The defendant will accept she was in a position of trust but will say that she did try to act more as a friend or contemporary towards [the boy] and will say that she, on occasion, acted in a non-professional way, but that this was all in a misguided attempt to protect him.".
Leah's conduct raised eyebrows, leading to police questioning her in June last year, during which she "denied any improper behaviour". However, despite being released on bail with the condition of no contact with the boy, she was spotted by a colleague in an Audi car with him at Walton Hall Park the following month. Jurors were also informed Leah's colleagues were "greatly concerned" about her "frequently" donning "completely unsuitable clothing" that was "skin tight and highly revealing". This included instances of Leah wearing a "bodysuit without underwear" and "highly visible thongs".
A staff member shared an alleged incident involving a teen and Lindy Leah, saying she once remarked to the young boy "I've had a shower but I forgot to bring clean knickers". This was reportedly followed by an audacious display where Leah "pulled up her bodysuit" in a revealing fashion and exclaimed: "Oh, you can see my nipples." A fellow manager claimed they voiced concerns after noticing the boy "lying in Lindy Leah's bed at the home", only to be met with Leah's dismissive reaction: "He's comfortable. He always does that and no one else has a problem with it.".
Initially, the teen's mother was reportedly content with her son's care at the facility but grew increasingly apprehensive over time. Upon confronting Leah, who appeared in court wearing a black jumper with her blonde hair neatly pulled back into a ponytail, about her worries, Leah is said to have responded that he "had her wrapped around his little finger", declaring her affection by saying she "loved him like one of her own" and found him "gorgeous and handsome". Prosecutor Mr Christie said Leah has steadfastly denied any sexual involvement with the boy, telling the jury: "She has never admitted that any sexual activity took place with [the boy]. It is for you to determine whether that is correct or not." Represented by Rebecca Filletti, Leah stands accused of one count of being a person in a position of trust causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The trial, overseen by Judge Brian Cummings KC, is ongoing and anticipated to conclude within a week.
