A CARE worker at a children's home in Slough who 'grossly abused' his position of trust has been jailed for 18 months for having sexual relations with a teenager.

Shaun Hinks, 45, of Ship Leonard Street, Portsmouth, was jailed at Reading Crown Court today (Wednesday) and was ordered to sign onto the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

He was charged with seven counts of sexual activity with a teenager, and one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child, relating to incidents involving a girl under the age of 18 between May 26 and May 30, 2013.

The incidents took place at a care home in Slough, and also during a short stay at a hotel in Portsmouth where Hinks had arranged to meet his victim.

Hinks pleaded guilty to five of the seven sexual activity charges on July 16, but not guilty to two of the other charges, as well as the charge of taking an indecent photograph of the victim. These three charges will lie on file.

Detective constable Luke Simms, investigating officer, said: “Hinks took advantage of a young girl in care by grossly abusing his position of trust. Although the victim may have felt she was consenting at the time of the incidents, she was clearly vulnerable and was being systematically groomed by Hinks.

“He would have been fully aware that the victim was under 18 and that given his position of trust and duty of care, it was a serious criminal offence and entirely inappropriate to engage in sexual activity with her.

“His behaviour was completely unacceptable and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of what took place.

“I appreciate this has been a difficult case for the victim to face given she trusted Hinks so I would like to thank her for her co-operation throughout our investigation.” Hinks was suspended from work at the homes during the police’s investigation and has since been dismissed from his role.