A CHILDCARE worker has been struck off the care register after being convicted of a sexual offence against a 15-year-old girl - and concealing it from the industry's watchdog.

Connor Ferguson, who is understood to be from Kilbirnie, hid his conviction from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) for almost eight months.

An SSSC report into Ferguson’s misconduct reveals he was convicted at Paisley Sheriff Court on October 26, 2022.

The Herald understands that Ferguson, who was then aged 28, was living in Kilbirnie at the time of his conviction.

The SSSC’s report reveals that Ferguson was convicted of “coerc[ing] an older child, aged 15, into looking at a sexual image” on September 30 last year.

The report states: "You did communicate indecently with her in that you, for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming them, did by social media send her sexual photographs of yourself, and repeatedly make sexual remarks to her."

Ferguson remained registered with the SSSC as a residential childcare worker until June 19 this year.

The report states: "The behaviour which led to your conviction was extremely serious. You coerced a child to look at a sexual image and communicated indecently with them.

"Your behaviour falls well below the standards expected of a social service worker and placed a child at a serious risk of emotional and psychological harm.

"Your conviction is fundamentally incompatible with the standards and values expected of a social service worker.

"Your behaviour directly impacted on the wellbeing of a child.

“As a social service worker you should not behave inside or outside of work in a way which would bring your suitability to work in social services into question.

"We have no evidence of any insight or remorse for your behaviour or recognition of the consequences your behaviour had on the child."

It was also added that Ferguson had "abused his position of trust" and that his behaviour was "fundamentally incompatible with professional registration".

The watchdog’s report said that removal of Ferguson’s name from the register was the only appropriate punishment, because other measures would "give no protection to service users or the public" and would not "adequately address the impairment of your fitness to practice".

The notice of Ferguson's removal came into effect on Thursday, August 17.