A SOCIAL worker from the North-East faces jail in the US after he was charged with child sex abuse.

Dwight E McGuire was detained by US border officials when he flew into Minneapolis for his father’s funeral last week.

The 40-year-old Darlington Borough Council worker was detained in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a child.

Mr McGuire, who lives in Darlington with wife Svetlana and their two young sons, has been charged with gross sexual imposition.

The allegations stem from 1989 when Mr McGuire, a US citizen, was living in Ohio.

But the alleged incident only came to light last year, when a woman, now in her mid-20s, accused him of abusing her.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years and is viewed as one level below rape.

Darlington Borough Council has suspended Mr McGuire, who worked with children taken into care.

A council spokesman said: “Mr McGuire has been employed by Darlington Borough Council since 2004.

“He is now suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation in America.

“We are getting in touch with the families he was working with in Darlington, but if anyone who Mr McGuire had worked with previously wants to speak to the council, they should contact us.”

People are asked to call 01325-346867.

US borders officers arrested Mr McGuire after a regulation check revealed a warrant issued for his arrest, dating back 20 years.

Mr McGuire had been travelling from Amsterdam with one of his sons.

Before Mr McGuire was detained, the child was put on a flight home to rejoin his mother.

The border officials then turned Mr McGuire over to police, who took him to the Ramsey County jail, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he is awaiting extradition to Ohio.