Social worker’s lifetime ban

Published on 04/12/2012 12:00

A SOCIAL worker who spent two romantic nights with the mentally ill patient he was caring for has been handed a ­lifetime ban.

Carl Abernethy tried to blame the “extremely vulnerable” woman after he took her on a string of dates.

Abernethy, 52, was working as a mental health officer at Edinburgh Royal Hospital when he was placed in charge of the woman late last year.

She was detained under the Mental Health Act after being found walking the streets of the Capital naked with a duvet wrapped around her. Their relationship was only brought to light after the woman’s father e-mailed her psychiatrist expressing concerns about the “romantic friendship” she had developed with Abernethy.

He was sacked from his post by city council chiefs when they discovered there was a relationship.

A Scottish Social Services Council inquiry held in Dundee heard the pair enjoyed a night out at pub Morningside Glory before Abernethy stayed at the woman’s flat.

Both insisted that they never had sex during any of their meetings.