Married mum jailed after falling in love claim with boy in care

A 44-year-old deputy care home manager has been jailed after a court heard how she claimed to have “fallen in love” with a vulnerable teenage boy.

Lindy Leah, from Warrington, met the teen while he was living in a care home in St Helens where she worked. She denied abusing her role to incite a child to engage in sexual activity but was convicted following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the Liverpool Echo reports.

At her sentencing hearing, the court was told how Leah sent the boy WhatsApp messages asking for “a love bite” and encouraging him to join her on a drug-fuelled night away. Prosecutor Graham Pickavance said this was “a very serious and sustained breach of trust over many months,” adding that she urged him to go missing from care to spend time with her while talking about “silky and red” clothes and using drug slang such as “balloons and flake.”

The boy’s mother broke down in court as she read her statement, describing the devastation the relationship caused. “I can’t begin to describe the devastation that has rocked my family,” she said. “Shock, anger, betrayal and feelings of failure have plagued me for the past year.”

She explained she had put her son into care in the hope professionals would support him, but instead “I had unintentionally handed my son to a predator.”

She accused Leah of grooming her son with money, gifts and fake love, isolating him from his family and manipulating him with jealousy and control. “She downplayed his destructive behaviour while spoiling him with money and fake love. She would manipulate him, take his phone in jealousy as a means to bribe him.”

The mum told the court, “There’s no closure to be had. No sentence great enough to compensate for the hurt, damage and destruction she has wrought on my son and our family. My son is coming to terms with the fact that the relationship with Lindy Leah was wrong. All I can do now as his mum is be there for him.” Addressing Leah directly, she added, “What kind of mother would do that to a child? You’re not his mother, I am and always will be.”

Leah showed no emotion during sentencing. Her barrister, Rebecca Filletti, said she struggled with anxiety and depression following her father’s death and had physical health issues needing treatment. She said Leah was “ashamed” of her actions and recognised the damage she caused.

The court also heard Leah pleaded guilty to being involved in supplying cannabis resin and ketamine after text messages about drug sales were found on her phone.

Judge sentenced her to 15 months for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust and another eight months for drug offences, making a total of 23 months. She has also been given a 10-year restraining order banning her from contacting the victim and his mother, and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.