A DUNFERMLINE support worker has been struck off after being jailed for downloading child porn.

Alan Martin, 46, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment in January after he admitted child porn offences when he was caught with more than 100 images in the most serious category.

A hearing of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) earlier this month resulted in a removal order being imposed after it was deemed that the offences breached public trust and undermined confidence in the profession.

The ruling stated: "Such an order will protect vulnerable service users. In particular, it will protect any children with whom you might otherwise have come into contact in the course of your employment. It will allow the public to continue to have confidence in the social services profession and in the SSSC as a regulator."

As reported by the Press in January, Martin had appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court where he pleaded guilty to a charge that between December 18, 2017, and February 1, 2018, he was in possession of indecent images of children.

He also admitted that between these dates, he downloaded indecent images of children.

Martin had 120 images in the most serious category, ‘A’. These were made up of 39 movies and 81 still images.

During the court appearance, defence solicitor Stephen Morrison said his client was “significantly socially isolated” and had “a particularly traumatic childhood” and suggested that Martin could be “safely managed” with a community sentence.

However, Sheriff Simon Collins imposed a 10-month jail term and placed him on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

The SSSC decision report said Martin's conviction raised a question of public protection.

"Vulnerable service users require to be assured that they can trust those charged with their care to look after them properly," it said. "They also require to be assured that those charged with their care will display the standards of decency and uprightness expected of members of the caring professions.

The offences, to which you pleaded guilty, disclose a sexual interest in children who are, by their very nature, vulnerable. Support workers in a housing support service and support workers in a care at home service often have access to children or to vulnerable adults.

"The panel considered that a finding of impairment of fitness to practise was necessary for reasons of public protection."