Carer struck off after being found with indecent images of children

A carer has been banned from working in the industry after being caught with indecent images of children.

Rokas Strauka had the illegal images in his possession between January and February 2019.

He was convicted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in October last year.

Following Strauka’s court case, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) stated that his behaviour “represents an abuse of the trust placed into you as a social service worker”.

The watchdog concluded that the Edinburgh support worker’s fitness to practise was impaired and removed him from the care register.

In a written ruling published this month, the SSSC stated: “By possessing indecent photographs, or pseudo-photographs, of children, you have shown a disregard for the law and have contributed to a demand for material that depicts, or purports to depict, sexual abuse of children.

“That demand is met by the subjection of children to sexual abuse.

“Your behaviour shows a disregard for the safety and welfare of children who are a vulnerable group in society.

“Your disregard for the safety and welfare of one vulnerable group raises serious concerns about your ongoing suitability to safeguard and care for other vulnerable people as a social service worker.”

The SSSC stated that Strauka’s continuous bad behaviour over a period of around a month showed a disregard for the law and welfare of others.

Strauka also failed to engage with the SSSC’s investigation and did not provide any evidence of insight, regret, or remediation of his behaviour.

The watchdog said: “The SSSC considers your behaviour to be indicative of you having underlying values issues, which are not easily remediable.

“In light of the seriousness nature of your behaviour, as well as the disregard shown for those affected, the SSSC considers that you do pose an ongoing risk to vulnerable people.”

In conclusion, the watchdog said a removal order was the “most appropriate sanction” to maintain the “continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession”.

The removal order came into effect on December 10.