A PAEDOPHILE child care worker jailed for two years was barred from working in the profession today.

Christopher Hole was employed at Mounton House School in Chepstow when he was caught downloading child porn, a panel heard.

Police found he had downloaded nearly 1,000 photos and videos of children as young as four.
He was jailed for two years in August.

Hole had worked at the special school for children with social, emotional and behaviour difficulties for nearly two decades.

Today, a Care Council for Wales panel considered his fitness to practice as a social care worker.

Hole did not attend the care council hearing in Cardiff.

The panel proceeded with the hearing in his absence after notifying him it would take place while he served time in prison.

The panel imposed a “removal order” meaning he cannot work as a social care worker.

The panel described his actions as “extremely grave” adding they were “fundamentally incompatible” with being registered with the care council.

Hole, formerly of Wyndham Terrace in Risca, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court aged 51 after pleading guilty to three counts of possessing indecent pictures of a child, and three counts of distributing pictures of a child.

He had also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing extreme pornographic images showing sex with animals.

Police found that 179 files involving bestiality had been downloaded on his computer.

Cardiff Judge Tom Crowther said at the time his actions not only made him a consumer but also a distributer of pornography, the panel was told.

The judge also suggested that by having worked at the special school he could have come into contact with children damaged by sexual abuse, the panel heard.

The panel found that he had breached the code of practice for social care workers and his fitness to practice had been impaired.

It also found that he still posed a risk in particular to children and he had undermined public confidence in the profession.

Imposing the removal order, the panel said that Hole had not provided any evidence of remorse and had failed to engage with the care council.Hole would be allowed to make a fresh application to register win the council after five years.