A disgraced agency nurse has been struck off after being convicted of sexually assaulting a man.

Sancho De Leon was working for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust when the incident happened.

The victim was alone in a room looking at football results on his phone when the married 44-year-old joined him and began making conversation.

A Nursing and Midwifery misconduct panel in London was told De Leon went over to see what the man was reading, before moving a hand onto his knee and rubbing his thigh with the other.

The victim, shocked at the advance made an excuse and went to leave, but De Leon, who is married and lives in Chatham, pursued him, rubbing his groin and squeezing his bottom.

In August a judge found De Leon guilty of the offences and handed him a community order, including 160 hours community service and a 20 day rehabilitation requirement.

He was also told to pay his victim £250 compensation and must sign the sex offenders register for five years.

De Leon claimed his victim had invented the story, saying he had been in the room but had not done anything.

Last week the panel found De Leon’s fitness to practice was impaired and found him guilty of misconduct.

Robin Somerville, panel chair at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said: “The panel determined the proposed striking off order was the only sanction that would satisfy the public interest in this case.”

The judgement document added: “Mr De Leon’s actions were serious in nature and would be considered deplorable by members of the public and fellow practitioners.”

The NMC noted De Leon, who did not attend the hearing, had indicated he no longer wished to practise as a registered nurse.