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Social worker paid girls to strip Social worker paid girls to strip
(about 19 hours later)
A senior social worker from West Yorkshire has been found guilty of misconduct after encouraging teenagers to pose topless for photo shoots.A senior social worker from West Yorkshire has been found guilty of misconduct after encouraging teenagers to pose topless for photo shoots.
Christopher Hardman, 55, from Batley, used his position at Kirklees council to obtain files and contact details of several young vulnerable girls.Christopher Hardman, 55, from Batley, used his position at Kirklees council to obtain files and contact details of several young vulnerable girls.
A conduct hearing was told he contacted the girls posing as someone who worked for a legitimate modelling agency.A conduct hearing was told he contacted the girls posing as someone who worked for a legitimate modelling agency.
Hardman, who did not attend the hearing, admitted the offences. Hardman, who admitted the offences, has been struck off.
This was an elaborate and sophisticated scheme in which the registrant deliberately targeted some very vulnerable service users Shelley Edwards, presenting officer for the GSCC This was an elaborate and sophisticated scheme deliberately targeting young women, the majority of whom were service users and two of whom were vulnerable Sarah Phillips, GSCC committee chairman
The General Social Care Council (GSCC) was told Hardman, who worked as a manager of a youth offending team, resigned from the council but his employers told him he would have been dismissed anyway.The General Social Care Council (GSCC) was told Hardman, who worked as a manager of a youth offending team, resigned from the council but his employers told him he would have been dismissed anyway.
The GSCC is due to make a decision on sanctions later on Tuesday. At the hearing in central London, which Hardman chose not to attend, chairman of the committee Sarah Phillips said he had committed a "gross breach" of trust and must be struck off the register of social workers.
Shelley Edwards, presenting officer for the GSCC, told the hearing in central London: "This was an elaborate and sophisticated scheme in which the registrant deliberately targeted some very vulnerable service users." She said: "This was an elaborate and sophisticated scheme deliberately targeting young women, the majority of whom were service users and two of whom were vulnerable."
Sets of lingerieSets of lingerie
The hearing was told he targeted six teenagers, including four who were known to the youth offending service. The hearing was told Hardman targeted six teenagers, including four who were known to the youth offending service.
All but one agreed to attend photo shoots, with two of them, including one described as "vulnerable", agreeing to pose topless with parental permission.All but one agreed to attend photo shoots, with two of them, including one described as "vulnerable", agreeing to pose topless with parental permission.
The hearing was told Hardman contacted a 16-year-old girl, identified as Miss A, in 2005 by letter and text claiming to be "Sue" and asking if she was interested in taking part in a photo shoot.The hearing was told Hardman contacted a 16-year-old girl, identified as Miss A, in 2005 by letter and text claiming to be "Sue" and asking if she was interested in taking part in a photo shoot.
She was told to take two sets of lingerie and that she would be paid £80 for a topless shoot and £120 for a nude one.She was told to take two sets of lingerie and that she would be paid £80 for a topless shoot and £120 for a nude one.
'Looked sexual''Looked sexual'
She replied saying she could not obtain parental permission, to which Hardman sent a text stating: "Just put any signature down, just don't tell anyone."She replied saying she could not obtain parental permission, to which Hardman sent a text stating: "Just put any signature down, just don't tell anyone."
Miss A did not attend but the hearing was told five other girls who were approached did, including Miss B who at the time was 15.Miss A did not attend but the hearing was told five other girls who were approached did, including Miss B who at the time was 15.
Miss B was paid £40 plus £10 travel expenses to pose in a skirt and shirt with her bra on and then in the same clothes with her bra removed.Miss B was paid £40 plus £10 travel expenses to pose in a skirt and shirt with her bra on and then in the same clothes with her bra removed.
She later received 179 thumbnails, the tribunal heard, and said she liked some of them but others "looked sexual".She later received 179 thumbnails, the tribunal heard, and said she liked some of them but others "looked sexual".
Hardman came under investigation in February 2006 after police arrested a photographer.Hardman came under investigation in February 2006 after police arrested a photographer.
He was not prosecuted in relation to the photography.He was not prosecuted in relation to the photography.