A mother-of-eight accused of committing indecent acts with a 10-year-old boy had the boy’s name tattooed on her chest.
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Diane Marie Brimble, 46, of Hamilton, has pleaded not guilty in the Warrnambool County Court to six charges, including five counts of committing an indecent act with a child aged under 16 years and one count of using a telecommunications device to groom a child.
Barrister Jennifer Clark said Ms Brimble denied doing anything indecent or sexual but she had developed affection for the boy and on occasions hugged him.
She said Ms Brimble also sent messages to the boy.
Ms Clark asked the jury to assess the evidence and the reliability and truthfulness of the complainant.
But Crown prosecutor Patrick Bourke alleged that Ms Brimble told the boy she loved him and asked would he sleep with her and have sex with her.
Mr Bourke said Ms Brimble was attracted to the boy and she viewed herself as being in a relationship with him.
Ms Brimble was alleged to have tried to kiss the boy on the lips, grabbed and hugged him, stroked him all over the body and that she said no one would ever know.
It is also alleged that Ms Brimble tried to lure the boy into her bedroom, offered him vodka, told him she was good in bed and asked him to sleep with her.
Mr Bourke said when the boy asked Ms Brimble what she meant by sleeping with her, she said to have sex. He said he was not old enough to have sex and Ms Brimble said he was when he was with her.
The prosecutor alleged that at another time Ms Brimble took off her top, walked into a room naked from the waist up and said “come on it will be fun”.
Facebook and other messages between Ms Brimble and the boy were discovered by his mother.
The prosecution alleges Ms Brimble wanted to be buried with a ring the boy made and had photos of him in her wallet and on her bedside table. She had a tattoo on her chest which she designed which said “love for …” with the boy’s name.
Police also found two love letters written by Ms Brimble and she had a locket containing a photo of the boy.
Mr Bourke said Ms Brimble viewed herself as being in a relationship with the boy and she had an attraction, love or infatuation for him.
Judge Mark Taft addressed the jury after the opening addresses and warned the panel members to assess the evidence to determine the case and not allow prejudice or sympathy to influence their decision.
The trial is expected to continue today in a closed court.
