17.07.2014

Sacked Pembrokeshire Council youth worker went on to abuse boy

Councillors in Pembrokeshire are set to vote on a motion calling for an independent inquiry into the handling of the case of a sacked youth worker who went on to abuse a boy.

Chief executive of the council, Bryn Parry Jones, has been urged to quit after a 2005 investigation into youth worker Mik Smith, who has now been jailed for six years, found no evidence of criminality. It was not until 2012 that Smith was removed from his role, after a report by the social services inspectorate called for his case to be reviewed.

However, after his sacking, he went on to film himself abusing an eight-year-old boy in 2013. The boy’s mother has said that a thorough investigation into Smith in 2005 may have prevented her son from being abused.

Whistleblower Sue Thomas had warned Pembrokeshire Council that the youth worker was behaving inappropriately around children and could pose a potential risk to those in his care.

Council Labour group leader Paul Miller has called on the local government minister to launch an independent inquiry to find out why the council "failed to act to protect Pembrokeshire children".

Expert Opinion

This is another shocking case in which a person has abused their position of trust and left a victim with psychological damage from which they may never fully recover. We would welcome an inquiry into how this case was handled by the council. <br/> <br/>"In cases of this nature it is vital that the welfare of the victim and their family is the top priority. Those affected need continued help and specialist support to come to terms with the crime committed against them so they can hopefully look forward to a brighter future. <br/> <br/>"It is also imperative that lessons are learned from cases such as this, to ensure other children are not subjected to abuse by people they trust in their local community." Luke Daniels - Partner