A SOCIAL worker from North Yorkshire has been struck off for having sex with a service user.

Leslie Healey, who was employed by North Yorkshire County Council, started a sexual relationship with the woman in 1998, the General Social Care Council’s conduct committee found.

He also lent the woman £5,000, took her on holiday with her family, acted as her child’s godparent and showed her confidential information about her that had been passed on to the council by a school.

Later, in 2008, Healey was found to have visited the woman, despite being instructed not to.

The committee said his behaviour amounted to “serious misconduct” and showed “flagrant dishonesty”.

A report from the committee read: “Removal was the only appropriate sanction. This is due to the serious and deliberate sexual abuse, the dishonesty and persistent failure to address and recognise the inappropriate professional behaviours.”

The report continued: “Whilst the committee noted the registrant’s apology and remorse, he continued to deny the sexually exploitative aspects of his behaviour and its impact on vulnerable service users.”

In a separate incident in 2006, while still employed by North Yorkshire County Council, Healey was found to have visited another service user at her home, where he groped her and attempted to kiss her.

At that time, he had no longer been the woman’s allocated social worker.

Earlier, while working for Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council in 1997, Healey had told a service user he wanted to have sex with her.

He was removed as her social worker but about three years later used his position to find out her address and sent her a Christmas card.

Healey did not attend the hearing at the General Social Care Council in London and the allegations were proved in his absence.

He no longer works for either Kirklees Council or North Yorkshire County Council and has been removed from the Social Care Register.