This is Kent -- A social worker from Margate whose life was left in ruins following his infatuation with a 16-year-old girl he was supposed to care for was today struck off the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC).
A disciplinary panel found that other clients of the Social Services could be at risk if Steven Thomas Snook, who pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court last summer of sexual activity with a child, was allowed to continue as a social worker.
Snook, a married 41-year-old, who at the time of his court hearing was living at Park Close, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Margate, was made the subject of a two year Community Order at the court last year and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
At last year's hearing in Canterbury the court was told that the girl concerned had gone missing on many occasions and that Snook had been given the job of looking after her.
However, Judge Michael O'Sullivan said as he sentenced him : "You became infatuated with her although in my judgment it was an obsession. Your life is now in ruins."
The court had been told that Snook had hugged and kissed the girl and become sexually aroused despite having been told to stay away from her.
Today, as he was struck off the HPCP panel chair, Graham Aitken, said the allegations found against him were too serious for no action to be taken.
He continued : "There has been a single but very serious breach of both professional standards and the criminal law by Mr Snook."
He said that the Panel had decided that striking Snook off was the "only appropriate action."
He added : "The Panel has concluded that if Mr Snook were to return to social work practice there would remain a risk to female service users. Reported by This is 10 hours ago.
A disciplinary panel found that other clients of the Social Services could be at risk if Steven Thomas Snook, who pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court last summer of sexual activity with a child, was allowed to continue as a social worker.
Snook, a married 41-year-old, who at the time of his court hearing was living at Park Close, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Margate, was made the subject of a two year Community Order at the court last year and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
At last year's hearing in Canterbury the court was told that the girl concerned had gone missing on many occasions and that Snook had been given the job of looking after her.
However, Judge Michael O'Sullivan said as he sentenced him : "You became infatuated with her although in my judgment it was an obsession. Your life is now in ruins."
The court had been told that Snook had hugged and kissed the girl and become sexually aroused despite having been told to stay away from her.
Today, as he was struck off the HPCP panel chair, Graham Aitken, said the allegations found against him were too serious for no action to be taken.
He continued : "There has been a single but very serious breach of both professional standards and the criminal law by Mr Snook."
He said that the Panel had decided that striking Snook off was the "only appropriate action."
He added : "The Panel has concluded that if Mr Snook were to return to social work practice there would remain a risk to female service users. Reported by This is 10 hours ago.