A LESBIAN paedophile ''preyed'' upon three girls, one as young as 13, who she began sexual relationships with after befriending a group of youngsters, a court heard today.

Kelly Bavister-Gandy, of Sandown, Isle of Wight, is accused of 17 charges of sexual abuse against a 13-year-old girl and two 14-year-olds.

The trial at Portsmouth Crown Court heart that the defendant, now aged 26, had extended consensual sexual relationships with the younger girl and with one of the 14-year-olds and had a ''one-night stand'' with the other.

Paul Dugdale, prosecuting, said that Bavister-Gandy had told some of the group of 12 children that she was only 15, while she had told others, including at least one of the victims, that she was 25.

He told the court that Bavister-Gandy engaged in kissing, giving the girls lovebites, touching their breasts and more intimate sexual contact.

He told the jury that Bavister-Gandy had met her first victim, a 14-year-old girl, on Valentine's Day last year.

He said: ''They clicked straight away, they got on very well. They stayed on a friend's sofa and they began a sexual relationship which involved a lot of kissing, the kind of kissing between partners which used to be called snogging. Kelly Bavister-Gandy gave the girl a lovebite and touched her breast.

''Some of the kissing was witnessed by one of the child witnesses and alcohol played a part.

''After a week, Kelly Bavister-Gandy broke up the relationship, (the girl) was devastated by the break-up, was sick, she cried and began to self harm.

''This is a theme of the case where Kelly Bavister-Gandy tells them she loves them, will never hurt them, winning over their trust and then ultimately causes them great harm.''

Mr Dugdale said that Bavister-Gandy then went on to have a relationship with the 13-year-old girl.

He told the court that Bavister-Gandy then met the third victim, another 14-year-old, at a birthday party and they kissed and the defendant gave the girl a lovebite.

Mr Dugdale said: ''She preyed upon these children's misplaced loyalty and attraction towards her and their love towards her.

''Whatever the relationship may have meant to Kelly Bavister-Gandy, certainly to (the 13-year-old), it meant everything to her, she had fallen in love.''

Mr Dugdale said that the victims were vulnerable children who came from troubled backgrounds and who ''were no angels''.

He added: ''Whatever their background may be, however difficult they may have been as children, it is utterly wrong, criminally wrong, for a 25-year-old woman to have a sexual relationship with 13 and 14-year-old girls.''

Mr Dugdale said that the defendant told police in interview that she denied having any sexual contact with the girls.

She denies 17 charges of engaging in sexual activity with a child between February and April last year.

Proceeding