Tennis coach court case: Claire Lyte quites tennis world

Oct 12 2007

A TOP coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a 13-year- old academy pupil has decided to quit the tennis world, a court heard yesterday.

Former professional player Claire Lyte, 29, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of having lesbian sex with the girl from Merseyside.

Lyte, who was in the world’s top 500 until injury ended her career, coached the teenager 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 talented tennis players.

Lyte and the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, shared rooms 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 sex on October 2, 2005, but the matter was not reported to police until August, 2006.

Lyte, who won the LTA’s British Young Coach of the Year award, claims that never happened.

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

Her father, Colin Lyte, told the court he had a meeting with the girl’s mother, grandmother and his wife at the M6 Knutsford Services on October 4, 2005.

He said it was not arranged to discuss any sexual matters, rather his concern that Lyte had been warned about getting too close to her players, and specifically the 13-year-old girl.

He told the court: “It could have been damaging to my daughter’s career.

“I thought if the girl’s mother knew about this then at least we could have a bit of support coming from her.”

Mr Lyte, who denied making any forms of threat towards the Merseyside family as they have claimed, said his daughter turned professional at the age of 16 and he was extremely proud of her tennis achievements.

He said he and his wife had invested money in Lyte’s future.

Mr Lyte told the jury: “She worked so hard.

“Of course we’ve supported her and I’m supporting her now.

“There is not going to be any more tennis career,” he said. “She’s decided enough’s enough.”

The case continues.