Care worker who simulated sex with young boys struck off

A care worker who simulated sex with two teenagers while looking after an 11-year-old boy has been struck off the social work register.

Christopher Neil, 34, was placed on the sex offenders register in August after admitting to seizing hold of the boys – aged 13 and 15 – and assaulting them by imitating a sex act.

A Scottish Social Services Council hearing in Dundee heard the 11-year-old was so shocked by the incident that he fled the bar and was later taken back to his care home by concerned police officers.

Neil, of Neilston, East Renfrewshire, had taken the boy for a short break at Turnberry Holiday Park near Ayr. The pair were watching Scotland play Spain in a televised football match when Neil began drinking alcohol.

Neil admitted he had behaved in a threatening and abusive manner by making comments of a sexual nature to other young persons at the caravan park bar before unfastening his trousers and making indecent suggestions to them.

He was picked up later near the caravan park by police officers, who returned him to his residential home. Mr Brown added he felt the panel had “no option” but to strike Neil off the register for residential childcare workers.

During a hearing on Monday he told the panel: “Mr Neil was responsible for this young service user but he consumed a quantity of alcohol. When the police were called, the young lad had fled the scene.

“The consequences could have been tremendous. Mr Neil didn’t even know what was happening when the young lad ran off. The service user was later lifted by the police and taken back to the home, but they came across him by accident rather than design.

“It is only because of the very intense, very professional support he received from staff that he settled back into his routine.”

Neil, who was dismissed from his post, spent a night in police custody before appearing at Ayr Sheriff Court, where his case was continued. He later pled guilty to the string of offences and was placed on probation and the sex offenders register for two years.

Mr Brown told the hearing that Neil had an “underlying alcohol problem”.

He said: “The alcohol would have affected his decision making but his behaviour cannot be condoned or minimised. Removal from the register is the only appropriate sanction.

“Someone who is on the sex offenders register is not compatible with registration. These offences were committed against teenagers. He was in a tremendous position of trust but is now on the sex offenders register. He has shown a serious disregard for the council’s code of practice.”