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."

Ms B’s husband then complained to social services but she was never interviewed because she was regarded as too vulnerable. When he was interviewed as part of the investigation, Healey denied making sexual advances towards her or talking about his wife.

He claimed that Ms B had touched his arm and leg and "invaded his personal space while they were sat on the settee".

The committee also heard that Healey, who later went on to take a job at North Yorkshire County Council, had groped and attempted to kiss a third woman, Ms A, during a home visit in January 2006. He then told her not to tell anyone because he could lose his job.

Ms A, an alcoholic who has since died, was visited by her mother later that day told her what had happened. Giving evidence to the committee, her mother said: "I said you should report him and she said no she didn’t want to. She felt she could not cope with the thought of it going to court."

But details about the incident emerged the following September when Ms A told a professional from a treatment centre that she did not want Healey to visit her when she was alone.

When an investigation was launched it was revealed that Healey had told managers the day after the events in January that Ms A had sexually assaulted him. He was suspended in November but given a final written warning.

Healey told managers that he had trouble with professional boundaries and found it difficult to say no to clients.

He was summarily dismissed by North Yorkshire County Council in November 2008 after an investigation into a complaint by Ms C’s husband.

The hearing continues.