Gary Grubb's offensive behaviour was reported to Police Scotland, which led to him being convicted in court.

Grubb had previously supported the service user while employed as a resettlement worker and practitioner with charity Aberdeen Cyrenians, in the north-east of the country.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said he later added the service user on Snapchat and exchanged messages and photographs that "breached professional boundaries".

The care watchdog reported that the messages included sexual references and referred to the use of sex toys.

In a written ruling published this week, the SSSC said: "The messages and photographs you sent were inappropriate and of a grossly indecent and sexual nature and resulted in you being convicted of a criminal offence.

"Your actions raise significant concerns about your ability to effectively manage relationships with people you support and call into question your underlying values and nature."

Grubb sent the messages between 3 and 14 December 2019. He was convicted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in January 2022 after being charged under the Communications Act 2003 for sending messages that were "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character".

He has now been struck off the care register.

The care watchdog, finding Grubb's fitness to practise impaired, added: "Social service workers must not use their professional position to pursue sexual or otherwise improper relationships with users of services and your behaviour leading to your conviction completely contradicts this responsibility."

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Grubb, who had worked in the social services sector since 2015, was said to have engaged with the SSSC's investigation but had not accepted full responsibility for his actions.

The SSSC added: "Instead of promoting the welfare and wellbeing of the service user and others, you have abused your position of trust to attempt to develop a personal relationship with them and exchange grossly indecent messages and images.

"A reasonable and well-informed member of the public would consider your actions to be an egregious breach of your professional responsibilities and a significant abuse of trust."

In conclusion, the watchdog said a removal order was the "most appropriate sanction" to maintain the "continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession".

The removal order came into effect on Monday.