A NORTH-EAST nurse has been struck off and sacked from his job after being filmed performing a sex act on a teenager in his care.

Steven Brown bought the youth food and clothes to build up a relationship with him, in what a misconduct panel ruled was an abuse of a position of trust.

When the 17-year-old, referred to as Client A, reported the incidents to police, Brown admitted he was the man in the 12-second mobile phone video but insisted the act was consensual.

Brown was employed to work with young offenders by the County Durham and Darlington Community Health Service at the time, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

He hugged the boy more than once after becoming his nurse in April 2010 and conducted an unnecessary ‘examination' of his genitals.

Panel chairwoman Rachel O'Connell said: “Mr Brown abused a position of trust as a nurse and breached sexual boundaries.

“He demonstrates a lack of insight into his failings and a lack of remorse for his actions.

“Mr Brown demonstrates the deep-seated attitudinal failings and the seriousness of his misconduct is fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register.

“Performing oral sex on Client A and grooming of a vulnerable young adult is so serious that the only option is a striking off order.”

Anu (CORR) Thompson, for the NMC, had earlier told the hearing Client A had been referred to Brown because of his drug use.

When arrested, Brown admitted hugging the teenager, but initially denied performing oral sex.

He changed his story when shown the video clip the teenager had recorded on his phone.

Brown, who had been registered as a nurse since February 2000, took Client A shopping and bought him food, trousers and trainers.

After the teenager complained of a pain when passing urine, the nurse conducted an 'unnecessary' and 'inappropriate' examination of his genitals.

The teenager was warned by a friend to record any further sexual behaviour.

At the end of an appointment, the nurse pulled down the teenager's tracksuit bottoms and performed oral sex on him.

He was arrested a day later after the footage was shown to police, but officers took no action against Brown and referred the matter to the NMC.

Brown did not attend the hearing, but admitted in two letters that his fitness to practise as a nurse is impaired.

He had denied buying him clothing, paying off his £30 cannabis debt, or that anything other than the sex act was sexually motivated.

A spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, which has merged with County Durham and Darlington Health Services since the incident, confirmed Brown had been dismissed for gross misconduct.

She said the trust supports the outcome of the NMC hearing.