Tennis coach: claims of an affair were ‘lies’ by mother

Oct 11 2007 by Sarah Chapman, Liverpool Daily Post

A FEMALE tennis coach told a court allegations she had a sexual affair with a 13-year-old girl were lies, made up by the girl’s pushy mother.

Claire Lyte, 29, told Liverpool Crown Court she now realises the Merseyside teenager was infatuated with her.

Lyte, a former professional player who was in the world’s top 500 until injury ended her career, coached the girl at the Lawn Tennis Association academy in Loughborough.

The prosecution claims an affair began between coach and pupil a few months after the girl started attending the training centre for gifted young players.

Lyte and the girl, who cannot be identified, shared rooms together at tournaments even though Lyte was aware the LTA frowned upon the arrangement.

The girl’s mother claims she found Lyte and the 13-year-old naked in bed having lesbian sex on October 2, 2005, but that was not reported to police until August, 2006.

Lyte, who won the LTA’s British Young Coach of the Year award, has maintained no such incident took place.

The tennis coach, who claims she is heterosexual, said: “It is very difficult for me to understand how the girl was acting throughout the whole of these allegations.

“I have thought long and hard about why she would do it after I’ve done so much for her.

“Her mum has persuaded her to make up these allegations, which are all just untrue.”

Lyte, of Solihull, West Midlands, denies five charges of sexual activity with a child.

The case continues.