A KITCHEN helper has admitted sexual activity with a vulnerable child at a Lancashire special school.

Kerry Louise Ramsden, 23, was on a 10-week temporary contract at the school when she met the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

She admitted sexual activity with a child between May and September 2008 and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity over the same period ahead of the first day of trial at Preston Crown Court yesterday.

Five other charges including sexual activity and grooming will lie on her file.

As well as working in the kitchen Ramsden also assisted in the classroom, police said.

The boy’s mother, who lives in Chorley, said she was ‘relieved’ with the result, but blasted the authorities.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands the school and the temping agency did not carry out a CRB check on Ramsden before her employment started at the school.

Ramsden has one previous conviction for affray.

The boy’s mother said: “There has been a huge, huge cloud over my son that people don’t believe him.

“He’s relieved justice has been done and she has eventually told the truth.

“I’m just sad he was ever put in that situation, in an environment you think is safe.

“You think he is safe and yet this has been allowed to occur, it never would have happened if the procedures had been followed.

“I do feel strongly that no-one was held to account.”

But in August the same year, the boy’s mother said, contact stopped with her son, who had been through thousands of pounds worth of behavioural treatment.

“She would travel to see him, it appeared very intense from both sides,” she added.

PC Catherine Thomas, from Lancashire Constabulary’s family protection unit, said although Ramsden had been hired only as a kitchen helper, she was assisting in the classroom.

PC Thomas said the relationship started after Ramsden gave the teenager her phone number.

“They would meet up in town centres.

“She would catch the bus and the train and they even went to Blackpool together, spending a couple of hours in a hotel.”

Judge Michael Byrne said ‘all sentencing options were open’ for February 19.

In mitigation, Tina Langdale, for Ramsden said there had been ‘genuine affection’ in the relationship, which had comprised of ‘kissing and cuddling’.