A social worker jailed for sending sexual AI-generated content to someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl has been struck off the care register. The Social Care Wales (SCW) panel denied John Langdon's request to hold the fitness to practise hearing in private, noting he appeared to "portray himself as a victim".
Hearing request denied
The panel said the 63-year-old had brought the profession into disrepute and breached "the fundamental tenets" of the care sector. Langdon, who had been employed as a domiciliary care worker since 2020, was jailed in March for sending sexual AI-generated content.
A sentencing hearing at Swansea Crown Court heard the former soldier contacted the profile of what appeared to be a child on a chat app and requested photos which he then used for making AI videos of them hugging and kissing, and a video where the "girl", which turned out to be a decoy, was undressed. He said the content, which included AI videos of oral sex, was sent in a "moment of madness". The judge remarked Langdon was in denial about being a paedophile.
Threats claim
A SCW fitness to practise hearing held in July was told Langdon, whose address when he appeared in court was given as Brickfield Street, Machynlleth, is currently incarcerated and had not communicated any wish to participate in proceedings, which were held online. Langdon requested the hearing be held in private over fears he would be put at risk of harm upon his release from prison if his crimes received further publicity.
In a written letter, Langdon said his former partner has told him he has received threats from people he classes as "vigilante groups". SCW denied Langdon's request, noting his convictions are already in the public domain and no evidence of any threats was provided.
Struck off with immediate effect
The hearing was told that at the time of his offences he was employed as a support worker. His employer has not been made public. SCW was told Langdon was under criminal investigation for sexual offences against a child on March 13 and he was suspended from his employment.
He pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communications with a child and to attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act at Llanelli Magistrates' Court and was subsequently sentenced to 16 months in prison in March. The panel described Langdon's criminal conviction as "extremely serious" and imposed a removal order striking him from the care register with immediate effect.
The panel said they were not satisfied that it could be said there is a "lessened risk" of further offences happening in future. They added Langdon appeared to "portray himself as a victim" in his correspondence with SCW. "He demonstrates a lack of insight into his actions", the judgement added.
The panel said Langdon said he will not seek employment in social care upon his release from prison. He can re-apply for registration with SCW after five years and this application would be considered by a panel. The judgement said there was no evidence of any previous concerns about Langdon being raised with SCW prior to his convictions.
