A SOCIAL worker who bought sex toys and lingerie for two mental health patients he was having affairs with has been banned from the profession for life.

Durham County Council social worker Anthony Craven had sex with both vulnerable women while they were under his care.

A disciplinary hearing was told he pleasured himself while speaking to the first on the phone, bought her a sex toy and used it on her during a visit to her home in 2001.

Craven then slept with a second woman over a three year period between 2011 and 2014, and bought her a sex toy, Ann Summers underwear and items for her flat.

He even took her Diazepam tablets and a bottle of wine to drink before they had sex.

But Craven was hauled before a Health and Care Professions Council panel after the first patient made a complaint in 2014 after having flashbacks about Craven's behaviour during their five month affair.

HCPC panel chair Nicola Bastin said: "The registrant held a position of power, responsibility and trust in relation to her care.

"He should have reinforced that a sexual relationship with her [the first patient] was incompatible with his role as a social worker.

"She was caused distress and left feeling the relationship was her fault.

"The registrant's behaviour caused harm to both service users and had the potential to cause even greater harm than was actually suffered."

The hearing was told Craven was the first patient's social worker in 2001.

The patient said he was always being affectionate towards her, often cuddling her and putting his arm around her, said Ms Shotunde.

They had a sexual relationship between May and September 2001.

The patient described him using a sex toy on her 'in a violent way' and felt she was unable to tell him to stop as it may upset him

Craven also had a sexual relationship with a second patient between 2011 and 2014.

As a result of this, the second patient told the panel 'I could never trust a male social worker again'.

Craven, who did not attend the hearing, has been struck off from the medial register.

Commenting on the case, Lesley Jeavons, Durham County Council's head of adult care, said the authority took the protection of vulnerable people extremely seriously.

She added: "As soon as we were made aware of these concerns we carried out a thorough investigation, involving partner agencies, which resulted in the referral to the HCPC to address the issues of serious misconduct."