A teaching assistant had a sexual relationship with an 11-year-old schoolboy, who later boasted about it to his friends despite agreeing to keep it secret, a court has heard.
Helen Turnbull, 35, a literacy assistant known at school as Miss Robson, allegedly had sex with the boy on three occasions in her Mini convertible. The boy, now 16, told Teesside Crown Court via videolink that he regretted the situation due to its impact on both their lives.
Turnbull, a mother of two from Haswell, County Durham, has pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust but denies three other counts. She admits kissing the boy but claims the relationship did not go further.
The prosecution alleges Turnbull groomed the boy with sweets and cuddles before embarking on a secret affair at an industrial estate. The teenager said he agreed to secrecy to protect her marriage and career but later told friends, describing it as 'lads' craic'.
Under cross-examination, the boy denied exaggerating, stating he felt 'disgusted' about what happened. The trial continues.
