Jailed social worker struck off

A social worker from Norfolk jailed for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl has been struck off by a regulator after a disciplinary hearing.

Kevin Mence, of King's Lynn, was banned from practising as a social worker by the General Social Care Council (GSCC).

GSCC officials said a disciplinary committee had found Mence guilty of "serious misconduct" and removed his name from The Social Care Register.

Mence, 43, was jailed for 16 months at Norwich Crown Court in November.

Indecent images

The judge ordered Mence's name to be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register and disqualified him from working with children.

Prosecutors said Mence rubbed the girl's leg as she watched a film and later kissed her.

He admitted sexual assault, distributing pornographic material and possessing more than 500 indecent images of children.

The offences came to light in June 2008 after the girl told her brother what had happened, the court heard.

At the times of his arrest, Mence had worked as a social worker with adults for Cambridgeshire County Council and had previously worked with children as a social worker in Norfolk.