Former Kirklees Council social worker targeted 'vulnerable' women for sex

Feb 9 2010 By Huddersfield Examiner

A FORMER Kirklees social worker who targeted vulnerable women for sex for more than a decade is facing a ban from practising.

A conduct committee of social care regulator the General Social Care Council (GSCC) is considering allegations that Leslie Healey had sex with one of the women, Ms C, and became a godparent to one of her children.

Healey is also said to have told another woman that he wanted to go to bed with her.

Counsel for the GSCC Zoe Johnson told the hearing in London: "The evidence you will hear demonstrates a pattern of Mr Healey exploiting vulnerable women for his own sexual purposes."

The committee was told that while he was employed by Kirklees Council in May 1997 he had told a woman, service user Ms B, that he wanted to have sex with her.

Ms Johnson told the hearing that Ms B, who died in July 2004, had disclosed to her husband that Healey had grabbed her from behind and suggested they go to bed together. He had also told her that he no longer had sex with his wife. She had pushed him away and threatened to call the police.

Ms B, who had been a victim of domestic violence, did not make a complaint because she was moving and believed she would never see Healey again, the committee was told.

But in 1999 Healey tracked her down to a Leeds address and sent her a Christmas card and letter suggesting they meet up. It was when she became "hysterical" after opening the card and letter that her husband became aware of the incident in May 1997.

Ms Johnson said: "Ms B was so upset that she ripped up the card and became hysterical. She closed all the curtains in her house and seemed very scared."