Former teaching assistant at Teesside school on trial accused of sexual assaults on boy

Lisa Richardson, 48, of Stockton, denies six charges of indecently assaulting underage boy several years ago when she was in her thirties

A former teaching assistant at a Teesside school is on trial accused of sexual assaults on an underage boy.

Lisa Richardson, 48, denies six charges of indecent assault at Teesside Crown Court.

She maintains the alleged sexual activity did not happen, a jury was told yesterday.

She is accused of sexually assaulting the boy several years ago, when she was in her thirties.

Opening the case, prosecutor Matthew Bean said the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was vulnerable.

He told jurors Richardson had sexual feelings for him and did not observe “clear boundaries” in her behaviour.

He said: “The prosecution say she engaged in a range of sexual acts with (the boy).”

“The prosecution say that at this time he was a vulnerable boy.

“The prosecution say the defendant first befriended and then engaged in sexual activity with him.”

He described how Richardson cuddled and kissed the boy and progressed to more serious sexual activity.

He said Richardson arranged to meet the boy at some bushes and they went to fields for sexual encounters.

It is alleged they went on to have full sex.

“He will describe how, at the time, he didn’t really understand what she was doing,” added Mr Bean.

“The defendant told him: ‘This is wrong.’ She then left.”

At one point, the boy’s mother challenged him over what appeared to be love bites on his neck, the court heard.

He told her of sexual activity but, due to his wishes, the matter was not reported to police.

A complaint was made to police years later in August 2012 and the boy, now an adult, gave an account of his experiences when he was younger.

Richardson, of Tyrone Road, Stockton, was interviewed by the police.

“She denied at any stage engaging in any form of sexual activity with him,” said Mr Bean.

“The defendant will say that no sexual activity took place.

“He (the boy) will describe in detail sexual activity taking place.

“The prosecution say that he has no reason to lie and he’s not lying.

“If, having considered all of the evidence, you find that he is telling the truth, that what he described having happened did happen, then the prosecution say that the only true verdicts in this case are ones of guilty.”

Proceeding