Social worker struck off after attack on ‘love rival’

A social worker who cared for vulnerable children has been struck off for driving his car at a stranger he believed had a “history”

with his girlfriend.

Mark Cunliffe swerved off the main road and into a layby targeting Shane Whitman, forcing him to jump to safety.

The 26-year-old had already been issued with a written warning by council bosses after sending text messages while transporting kids when he carried out the dangerous manoeuvre.

As a result of the two incidents his case was referred to the Scottish Social Service Council who carried out a probe into his conduct.

They heard Cunliffe had been found guilty of targeting Whitman with his car in Lerwick on Shetland in January 2012.

Sheriff Philip Mann told him: “A motor car can be a lethal weapon and the courts will take as dim a view as they will a knife.”

Cunliffe admitted to the court he ‘appreciated how wrong what he did was’ and it was a ‘particularly stupid thing to do that could have gone terribly wrong’.

The dad-of-two, who joined social services in May 2005, avoided prison because of the ‘adverse effect on those around him’ and was given a nine month community payback order.

However, the SSSC still had to examine his suitability to work in social services.

Cunliffe was issued his first written warning in October 2011 for sending text messages while driving a social work department vehicle with two children and a colleague in the car.

The SSSC ruled his actions had ‘put both him and others at unnecessary risk’ .

It ruled the actions meant he “failed to meet relevant standards of practice and to work in a lawful, safe and effective way”.

In total they ruled Cunliffe, who didn’t attempt to defend himself at the hearing in Dundee last week, committed three breaches of their code of practice as a result of the two incidents.

The seriousness of his misconduct meant the only option open to the disciplinary panel was to issue a Removal Order, which has the effect of preventing him working as a social worker.

A spokeswoman for Shetlands Island Council said: “It is not our policy to comment on matters concerning individual members of staff.

“We followed our standard process and referred to SSSC for them to attend to registration matters.”