Teacher, 29, 'had sex with schoolgirl after tricking her with relationship lie'

14 November 2023 , 16:36

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Pattison was 23 when the alleged offences took place (Image: Brighton Pictures / Facebook)

A female teacher is accused of “repeatedly” having sex with a “vulnerable” 14-year-old schoolgirl - and making her believe that they were in a relationship, a. court heard. .

Ellie Pattison was 23 when she worked as a teaching assistant in East Sussex at the time the offences allegedly occurred. She is alleged to have had sex with the pupil twice in her car and twice in her friend’s homes, Hove Crown Court heard. She denies five charges of sexual activity with the victim.

The pair allegedly would meet and kiss outside the child’s school, with the adult forming an “inappropriate relationship” with her victim. One of the girl’s friends saw them kissing and reported them, the court heard, leading to Pattison’s suspension.

Pattison’s partner reported the relationship to police, before Pattison was then arrested. Prosecutor Sarah Lindop said she “abused her position of trust” and made the vulnerable complainant “believe it was a real relationship and that she loved her”.

Teaching assistant Pattison arrived at court for her trial on Monday (November 13) (David McHugh / Brighton Pictures)

They even sent intimate messages and set up cameras in their bedrooms so they could watch one another at night, reports state. Jurors were played the alleged victim's police interview, where she described her feelings towards Pattison at the time, according to the Daily Star. She said: "She told me she had fallen for me and she was in love with me.”

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She described how Pattison allegedly picked her up in her silver Peugeot and tried to kiss her while the minor was drunk. "We were sitting there and I got even more f****d and she kissed me again and the second time I kissed her back and from that point we started trying to get together," she said.

“I didn’t really have any feeling for her like that before," she added. The young woman accused Pattison of making her think something "that wasn't even real". She added: "It’s f****d me up so bad that I can’t even have a relationship with anyone anymore. Every time I see a silver Peugeot I’m looking to see if it is her.”

Pattison denies three counts of penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between the age of 13 and 15 and also denies two further charges of non-penetrative sexual activity with the child at various locations. The trial continues.

Alex Croft