An instructor at a performing arts school is on trial accused of having an 'exploitative' sexual relationship with a child.

Kim Connor, 46, is said to have made sexual advances towards the girl, a pupil at the school in Salford, when she was in her mid-teens.

Ms Connor, from Salford, denies 12 offences. She says the sexual relationship only started when the girl, now an adult, had turned 18.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard the girl had been interested in performing arts since she was a younger child, and attended the school once a week.

When she was in her mid-teens, the girl was having 'difficulty coming to terms with her sexuality', prosecutor Darren Preston said.

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They started to kiss each other but not in a sexual way at first, the court heard.

The relationship later became sexual and 'stopped being just pecks on the lips', Mr Preston said.

Ms Connor was 'trusted' by the girl's parents, and she would stay overnight at her house.

They would go on holiday together, attend concerts and go shopping at the Trafford Centre, jurors heard.

Prosecutors claim that if anyone questioned them while they were out in public, Ms Connor told the girl to tell others that she was 21, and that they could not show 'overt signs of affection'.

"She knew full well what she was doing was wrong," Mr Preston said.

Jurors heard the girl 'adored' Ms Connor, and was 'enthralled' and 'besotted' by her.

Later, their relationship became 'more intense' and Ms Connor made 'sexual advances' to the girl.

Mr Preston said: "They became friendly. They became affectionate. The defendant effectively made sexual advances to her and they indulged in a relationship.

"That was one which was unequal. One which was exploitative."

Later, the girl went to university and became more 'independent'.

Prosecutors said she became 'upset' after finding out that Ms Connor had been undergoing IVF treatment behind her back, and they later split.

Jurors were told that Ms Connor 'never forced her [the girl] to do anything'.

But Mr Preston said: "The reality is that this was an abusive relationship for several reasons."

The police became involved years later, and after being arrested Ms Connor admitted she had a sexual relationship with the alleged victim, but said that it started when she turned 18.

Ms Connor, of Blyton Lane, Salford, has pleaded not guilty to 12 offences.

They included six counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust; and six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust.