A FORMER soldier has been left feeling completely “let down by the system” after discovering his family social worker was Thomas Starkey.

Mr Starkey was revealed in last week’s SNJ as being employed by Gloucestershire County Council’s children and families team in Stroud, despite previously been suspended for gross misconduct which involved sexually harassing female colleagues.

A rape victim, whose son was visited by Mr Starkey every fortnight, spoke out in the SNJ because she wanted to publicise the fact that Mr Starkey was working with vulnerable women.

The former Gulf War veteran, who suffers from PTSD and Gulf War syndrome, is now angry that Mr Starkey was allowed work with vulnerable families.

The father of five, who lives in Dursley, said he now wants nothing to do with social services as he has lost his trust in them.

“What was really upsetting was that no one from social services informed my family about Mr Starkey’s past,” he said.

“I had to find out from my daughter who had read about it in the newspaper. I just feel really let down by them.”

According to the man, who is 42, Mr Starkey arrived at his home at 7pm, unannounced, on the same evening the article appeared in the SNJ.

“He showed up with the newspaper in hand and then tried to explain his side of the story in an attempt to defend himself.”

Mr Starkey is employed by a recruitment agency which comes under the umbrella of recruitment managing specialists Comensura.

According to a Comensura spokesman it is the recruitment agency which is responsible for verifying references and carrying out background checks.

Kathy O’Mahony, operations director for children’s safeguarding, told the SNJ: “Thomas Starkey’s agency contract comes to an end this week and he will no longer be working as a social worker on behalf of GCC.”

GCC has written to all the families who have come into contact with him informing them of his past and that he will no longer be working with them.