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Teenage boy ‘given drugs by mother-of-three Caroline Lea to keep him awake for sex’ with her

Victim says he was “shocked” and pushed Lea away when she first tried to kiss him - but then “changed my mind because I'm a lad”

Wednesday 06 January 2016 18:35 GMT

Caroline Lea outside Preston Crown Court where she denies seven counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child (PA)

A 15-year-old boy was given drugs by a 36-year-old mother-of-three to keep him awake for sex, a court has heard.

Caroline Lea is said to have slept with the youngster on a regular basis for several months before he said he realised he needed to find a girlfriend of his own age.

The defendant, from Blackpool, Lancashire, is also accused of taking part in a threesome with another 15-year-old complainant and his young friend, as well as allegedly sexually touching a third boy of the same age.

Lea denies committing any sexual offences and told police that the threesome allegation was “nonsense”.

A jury at Preston Crown Court today heard evidence from her accusers including a youth who said Lea initiated their first sexual encounter by inviting him to her bedroom to watch a film.

In his police interview, the complainant said he was “shocked” and pushed Lea away on her bed when she tried to kiss him but then “changed my mind because I'm a lad”.

Save the Children's Action 2015

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1/7Save the Children's Action 2015

Save the Children's Action 2015

Shukri, 50 years old

From Gargara, Awdal region, Somaliland

“The last three years has been so tough because the rains haven’t come. I use to have 200 goats, sheep, camels and donkey. But now I have just 10 goats left. My livestock died because there was just nothing left for them to eat. I used to feel like a rich woman because I had everything I needed – milk, butter, meat. Now I have none of these.

“I’m thankful to God and other people who are giving us water and food to eat, but I would like to go back to my old village and restart my life. I only know how to be a pastoralist.

“The droughts have caused everyone to suffer. Those who were rich are now poor, and those who were poor are still poor.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

Save the Children's Action 2015

Sahel, 26 years old

From Gargara, Awdal region, Somaliland

Sahel with her children, from left to right, Sagal , 2 years old, Yaasir, 4 years old, Khalid, 6 years old. She says: “Three years ago we lost all of our livestock during the drought, so we travelled two days to reach this village where we heard there was water. I carried Yaasir and Khalid walked alongside me. It was full of struggle. Sometimes you stop and try to cook rice but you realise you have no rice. My children had to sleep without eating. We got tired a lot."

“If you try to cook food to sell, there is no market – people just don’t have the money to buy it. You just end up eating it yourself. Now my life is full of worry. I don’t like staying here but I have to. I won’t go back unless there is something to go back to.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

Save the Children's Action 2015

Roda, 18 years old and daughter Idil, 13 months old

From near Gargara, Awdal region Somaliland

“I miss my old life – we used to have a lot of livestock and 10 camels. But there is nothing in my old village now. Living here in the camp is very difficult, especially the lack of water and medical healthcare. My child got sick recently and had diarrhoea for a number of days. I have to live here; I have nowhere else to go.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

Save the Children's Action 2015

Hassan Haji Tawakal, 80 years old

From Gargara, Awdal region, Somaliland

“I am the eldest person in this town. I sort out minor problems, everything comes to me, from personal issues to public issues. We need many things in our town. Water is a basic need. All communities need it whether it comes from shallow wells or water assistance. Children should be sent to school on proper scholarships, and learn income-generating skills. I need cash for my children. I need health for my family but we don’t have sufficient healthcare.

“My wealth has been destroyed. I used to have a huge livestock but I have none now. The drought is still here. Each drought comes with its own intensity, but the last one was the fiercest I’ve ever seen. I am struggling, but I don’t have any answers.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

Save the Children's Action 2015

Ayan, 11 years old

From near Gargara, Awdal region, Somaliland

"Our family used to have many livestock and seven camels, but now we just have three goats. I miss dinking camels’ milk – I remember it was so delicious, but it’s too expensive to buy now. When I’m older I’d like to look after livestock like my family used to.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

Save the Children's Action 2015

Annab, 40 years old

From Cabdi Geedi, Maroodi Jeex region, Somaliland

“The droughts have been getting worse for ten years and it is getting worse day by day. In May this year it was so severe, the rains failed again and my family and I didn’t have anything to drink. I was worried for my children’s lives. Then the emergency water came and it saved us.

“I used to have 40 livestock. Because of the droughts and rains I have lost nearly all of them. Another six died four days ago. I now have just four left. I used to feed my children rice. I was worried when I couldn’t buy rice. They miss the meat and milk we used to get from our livestock. The children got weaker and stopped playing. I used to feed them a few times a day, then I only fed them once.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

Save the Children's Action 2015

Aasha, five years old

From Bodale, Maroodi Jeex region, Somaliland

“I help my mother to look after my baby sister. I also help with the goats, herding them from place to place. My favourite goat is a little one called Quruxo. It means beautiful one.”

Felicity McCabe/Save the Children

He said the defendant performed oral sex on him before they had intercourse in several positions.

He said: “We did everything really. Everything you name, everything she wanted to do.”

The interviewing detective asked him: “What ended that first sexual encounter?”

Child abuse going 'undetected'

The teenager replied: “We stopped because we were tired.”

The sexual relationship continued as he stayed over at her former home in the resort, the court was told.

He added: “Sometimes I was a bit tired and she would give me speed (amphetamines) to stay awake.”

He said the defendant was usually sober during sex except for one occasion.

Asked what made him decide to stop the alleged relationship, he said: “Because it was wrong, because I'm 15.

”I have a life ahead of me. I have got to go out and get a girlfriend of my own age.“

He said he also listened to the advice of his friends who told him the defendant was ”ruining“ his life.

Lea, of Clifton Drive, denies seven counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child on various dates between December 2013 and March 2014.

She has also pleaded not guilty to one count of allowing her home to be used for smoking cannabis and a separate count of supplying amphetamines, a Class B drug, to another.

PA