A WOMAN described a girl as ‘being the daughter I never had’ before they entered a relationship, a jury heard.

Stephanie Shorney, 34, is accused of multiple sexual offences involving an underage girl in West Dorset between January 28, 2017 and January 27, 2019.

The girl, who was aged between 14 and 15 during this time, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Shorney, of Hill View, Maiden Newton, denies seven counts of sexual offences in a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Giving evidence, Shorney told how the complainant started to message her in summer 2017.

David Freeland, defending, asked her how the girl was treated by her during the house visits.

Shorney said: “Like the eldest daughter I never had. My eldest daughter at the time was nine years old.”

Shorney also spoke of how she ‘took her under my wing’ and how she comforted her about her struggles with bullying at school and home life.

Shorney claimed the alleged victim slept on the sofa but would often message her if she felt unwell or scared. Shorney described any kisses as a ‘motherly peck on the cheek’ and would cuddle her to reassure her.

Following a night in September 2017 that the alleged victim stayed overnight, in which she slept in the same bed as Shorney, she denied any sexual interaction took place.

Shortly after, the alleged victim was ‘asked not to return’ because she ‘told a lot of lies which my husband caught her out with’.

Shorney, who admitted she was bisexual, denied any conversation about their feelings for each other and denied a number of sexual encounters.

Shorney added that between April 2018 and November 2018, the pair were not in contact with each other, and she struggled with vertigo during this time, leaving her unable to work or care for herself or family.

According to Shorney, the pair reconnected after the complainant made an enquiry about some puppies she had for sale and the conversation turned into a mutual catch-up in January 2019.

Shorney confirmed she had a sexual relationship with the alleged victim, but only after she turned 16. She denied any sexual contact before this age, but confirmed they had kissed.

She added she would pick up the complainant in her car and go for a drive once or twice a week.

She told the jury: “We would talk, watch a film on her phone and obviously, as she was 16, it would lead to sexual matters.”

The relationship broke down during 2019 and a 'concerned' Shorney messaged her why they she wasn't contacting her as often.

Shorney was arrested in January 2020 after the alleged victim’s mother contacted the police.

When asked whether she thought everything she said during police interview was right or correct, she replied: “No. I was a mess and worried about my children.”

The trial continues.