A TEACHING assistant accused of having a sexual relationship with a pupil has been cleared of all charges.

The jury in the trial of Lisa Richardson at Teesside Crown Court took just over half an hour to return ‘not guilty’ verdicts in respect of six counts of indecent assault, which the prosecution said were specimen charges.

The 48-year-old married mother, of Tyrone Road, Stockton, had been accused of befriending a teenage pupil who was said to be “vulnerable”.

The youngster had behavioural problems and frequently walked out of lessons without permission.

Mrs Richardson, who was assigned to care for the boy, now an adult, was said to have allowed the youngster to touch her breasts and also committed sex acts with him.

Prosecutor Matthew Bean claimed the defendant, who also babysat the complainant, regularly had sex with him, sometimes at her home.

He said the alleged victim could describe her bedroom in some detail and hid in Mrs Richardson’s wardrobe when other people were present.

But Mrs Richardson denounced the allegations as “lies” and “rubbish” and said she had never been in a relationship. She said the complainant only visited her house once, accompanied by his mother, in order to see her cats.

The defendant acknowledged it was her role to help calm down the alleged victim when he got “wound-up” in lessons and she would take him somewhere quiet to do so.

However she denied she would close the door behind them in their meetings at school, in order that they were not disturbed.

She also criticised a colleague who said she did not discourage her accuser’s “attachment and obsession” with her.

Mrs Richardson told Mr Bean during his questioning of her: “I am an excellent teacher so why am I standing here listening to this rubbish?”

She also on more than one occasion accused the complainant of lying in his account to police and the court.

Mr Bean said the complainant had no reason to dislike Mrs Richardson or lie about his account.