Ex-social worker sacked over indecent child images allegations poses 'significant risk' to children, hearing told

A SENIOR social worker who was sacked over allegations of possessing indecent images poses a “significant risk” to children, a hearing has heard.

Michael Paton, who worked as a social worker for Newport City Council from 2007 to 2014, is accused of possessing four indecent images of children.

At a Care Council for Wales Fitness to Practice hearing, independent safeguarding consultant and trainer Colin Turner told a panel Mr Paton had shown no empathy towards children shown in images found on his computer.

Mr Paton denies ever seeing the images and says he does not know how they appeared on his computer.

Mr Turner, who interviewed Mr Paton about the images, told the hearing: “The images I was shown by the police were extremely disturbing and in no way should a man in his position have them in his possession.”

He added: “This was a man who had worked in child protection and safeguarding for 20 plus years, advising people how to keep children safe online.”

He said he believed Mr Paton remains a “significant risk” to children.

Mr Paton was arrested by police on May 2, 2014, as part of Operation Notarise – a national police investigation into child pornography.

He was charged with possessing indecent child images but formally acquitted due to a lack of evidence available to the court on August 26, 2015.

Mr Paton was dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary hearing into the issue from February 8, 2016, to June 7 last year.

The first day of the Fitness to Practice hearing heard that Mr Paton had failed to attend, claiming he not been given sufficient time to see the evidence.

David Mortimer, presenting the case for the Care Council for Wales, said Mr Paton had “chosen” not to view the evidence, which had been emailed to him on January 26.

“It seems he is selective about which emails he is replying to,” Mr Mortimer told the committee.

“He has been served properly in notice and with all of the evidence.

“I would say the reality is that he has voluntarily absented himself from the proceedings.”

Islwyn Jones, chairman of the committee, said they were satisfied notice had been properly served and that Mr Paton’s absence was “voluntary.”

Mr Paton was acquitted of any criminal offence.

Despite Mr Paton’s acquittal in a criminal court, the Care Council for Wales said it had a duty to investigate the allegations.

The hearing is expected to last four days. Proceeding.

1.37pm

A FORMER social worker who was sacked over allegations of possessing indecent images of children has failed to attend a Fitness to Practice hearing.

Michael Paton, a former social worker employed by Newport City Council from 2007 to 2014, is accused of possessing four indecent images of children.

The Care Council for Wales has begun its hearing into the allegations this morning, despite Mr Paton’s absence.

Mr Paton, who was acquitted in a criminal court over the charges, is accused of possessing four indecent images of children, one in category B, the second most serious level, and three in category C.

He is also accused of searching the internet for indecent images and failing to report pop-ups of a pornographic nature to his employer.

Mr Paton denies all the allegations, the hearing heard.

He says he never accessed child pornography and disputes the evidence.

Mr Paton was arrested by police on May 2, 2014, as part of Operation Notarise – a national police investigation into child pornography.

He was charged with possessing indecent child images but formally acquitted due to a lack of evidence on August 26, 2015.

Mr Paton was dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary hearing into the issue from February 8, 2016, to June 7 last year.

The first day of the Fitness to Practice hearing heard that Mr Paton had failed to attend, claiming he not been given sufficient time to see the evidence.

David Mortimer, presenting the case for the Care Council for Wales, said Mr Paton had “chosen” not to view the evidence, which had been emailed to him on January 26.

“It seems he is selective about which emails he is replying to,” Mr Mortimer told the committee.

“He has been served properly in notice and with all of the evidence.

“I would say the reality is that he has voluntarily absented himself from the proceedings.”

Islwyn Jones, chairman of the committee, said they were satisfied notice had been properly served and that Mr Paton’s absence was “voluntary.”

Mr Paton was acquitted by police of any criminal offence.

Despite Mr Paton’s acquittal in a criminal court, the Care Council for Wales said it had a duty to investigate the allegations.

The hearing is expected to last four days.

Proceeding.