A TEACHING assistant who is alleged to have befriended and had sex with a pupil told him: “This is wrong”.

Lisa Richardson is said to have abused the trust placed in her after developing sexual feelings for the vulnerable youngster.

She denies six counts of indecent assault said to have been committed several years ago and is on trial at Teesside Crown Court.

Matthew Bean, prosecuting, described how Ms Richardson would take the alleged victim into an office at the Teesside school where she worked and would cuddle him and kiss him on the mouth.

Mr Bean said the 48-year-old defendant, of Tyrone Road, Stockton, who was also allowed to look after him at his home when his mother went out, put her hands down his trousers during their encounters and put his hands on her breasts.

She would arrange to meet him in some bushes near a pub and also in fields where she would commit sex acts on him, he said.

Describing the first time they had sex the prosecutor said: “He can recall that the defendant told him after they had finished ‘This is wrong’.”

“After this incident you will hear that they regularly engaged in sexual intercourse.”

The matters came to light when the complainant's mother challenged him over 'love bites' she discovered on his neck and he admitted having sexual relations with the teaching assistant.

No complaint was made to police initially, but after the matter was reported in August 2012 officers interviewed the defendant who denied all allegations of sexual activity involving the boy.

Addressing the jury, Mr Bean said: “Rather than setting clear boundaries and offering professional and caring support within the school the defendant began to have sexual feelings for [the boy].

“It is against this background that the prosecution say she first befriended and then began to have sexual activity with him.”

He added: “The question is what was happening during this time and the months that followed?

“The defendant will say no sexual activity took place. The prosecution say that the defendant was in an important position of trust and she abused that position by engaging in sexual activity with him.”

Mr Bean said the complainant would describe in great detail what happened with Ms Richardson and had “no reason to lie”.

The trial continues.