A SOCIAL worker who shared indecent images of children while employed by Clackmannanshire Council has been struck off.

Ronnie Park was convicted of the offence at Glasgow Sheriff Court last year and was added to the sex offenders' register for two years.

He was, however, spared a prison sentence and told to carry out unpaid work.

It was found he shared the vile material with friends on WhatsApp, before arguing it was intended only to shock the recipients in some twisted attempt of humour.

At the time he was employed as a children's social worker with Clackmannanshire Council.

Last week, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found Park unfit to hold any such post with a decision finally made on Tuesday, April 6.

The SSSC said that convictions such as these "violates fundamental tenets" of social work and should be considered an abuse of trust.

The ruling stated: "This type of behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with professional registration and is indicative of deep-seated attitudinal problems.

"The possession and distributing of indecent photos or pseudo photos of children is abusive behaviour and gives rise to a significant need to protect service users and the wider public.

"A reasonable member of the public in receipt of all the information would have significant concerns about your conduct in the knowledge that you are a registered social worker who worked with children."

The SSSC, therefore, concluded that a removal order was "necessary and justified" in order to maintain public confidence in the regulator's role within the profession.

Details of the offending were heard last October during sheriff court proceedings in Glasgow.

Park's home in the Baillieston area of the city was raided and his iPhone later examined.

Officers found three moving images depicting indecent imagery of children aged been infant age and nine years old.

A further phone was recovered containing five more moving images involving children aged between six months and 11 years old.

The court heard that Park had distributed the images via WhatsApp.

His defence agent later claimed the 47-year-old had tried only to "shock" the people he was sending them to and that "some level of dark humour was involved".

When approached by the Advertiser, Clackmannanshire Council gave only vague answers when asked about action taken by the local authority against Park, and when, with regards to the allegations.

A spokesperson said: "Mr Park is no longer engaged with the council, his employment having concluded almost two years ago.

"Where matters related to misconduct/gross misconduct arise these are dealt with by way of the council's agreed disciplinary procedures. This includes suspension and where appropriate, liaising with appropriate regulatory bodies."

The local authority also did not address the question of whether there had been any indications of Park's behaviour while employed in Alloa.

Instead, the spokesperson simply added: "In relation to those staff engaged by the council, particularly those in areas including social care and adult care, the council as an employer ensures identify and right to work checks, PVG Checks, qualification checks, registration checks, etc., are all undertaken to determine the suitability of those staff employed."

No answer was offered when asked about what support is being offered to Wee County families Park had worked with previously.

The council stated that they observed their obligations to inform the SSSC immediately of any misconduct cases.

A spokesperson confirmed: "We can confirm the council's disciplinary procedures were followed in this instance and the SSSC advised accordingly. We understand that Mr Park has been removed from the SSSC register."