A CARE WORKER who sexually “exploited” the vulnerable woman he was supposed to be looking after has lost his home, his career and his liberty.

Allan Atkinson’s actions over a long period left the North Yorkshire victim feeling psychotic, depressed and heartbroken, David Gordon, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

She had thought she was making him happy because he loved her. But he was forbidden to have sexual activity with her while he was caring for her.

“It was unlawful because of the professional relationship between them,” said Mr Gordon.

“Atkinson made her feel special and then exploited her vulnerability. He made her feel she was the defendant’s world.” The woman had long-term mental health issues including self-harming and an unstable emotional personality disorder.

Judge Simon Hickey said Atkinson had known fully about the woman’s mental disabilities, but he had groomed the woman for sexual activity. He had told her it was to be their secret and he had taken sexual pictures of her.

Atkinson, 57, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three charges of a care worker having sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder.

He was jailed for four years, put on the disbarring list, which prevents sex offenders working with vulnerable people, and on the sex offenders’ register.