A woman says her "life is in ruins" after her physiotherapist sent naked photos of himself during a four-month affair.

Kyle Blackburn, who worked at Kent Sports Injury and Physiotherapy Clinic in Maidstone, has now been suspended for six months.

A Health and Care Professions Tribunal Service hearing was told how what started as flirty messages allegedly spiralled into a sexual relationship in the clinic.

The relationship started when she contacted Mr Blackburn about an injury.

Initially all contact was via text but she said the messages started to become "flirty" – one complementing her WhatsApp profile picture.

At the first two sessions the patient discussed her personal life and Mr Blackburn confessed he "fancied" her.

They first kissed after a session in which the former Kent Police occupational physio, upon request, examined another injury.

The relationship soon spiralled into a more physical one by around their fifth meeting.

A month later, after one of their sessions, Mr Blackburn kissed the patient and began touching her intimately.

During the next session they engaged in sexual relations, the first time in the clinic room. But Mr Blackburn gave evidence to say no unprofessional actions happened during the session itself.

He said: “We never engaged in sexual activity during a clinic session. We always met following appointments, which was my lunch break.”

The relationship continued for months, with one meeting taking place at Mr Blackburn's house.

Four months after their first meeting, her partner discovered the affair and confronted her. There were no more meetings.

In the hearing the patient said Mr Blackburn sent 10 photos of himself naked and that after "a lot of coercion" she reciprocated. She also said at times she felt "controlled".

Mr Blackburn knew what he was doing was unprofessional, the panel heard.

The patient said: "He told me to delete all the WhatsApp messages between us, which I did. If anyone ever found out about what was going on between us, he would lose his job."

She added: "Little did I know that three months later my life would be in ruins.

"This is not what I wanted or asked for. My life has been devastated by these events. My life is over.”

Mr Blackburn is now unable to practice for six months.

The panel considered series of factors when making their decision, from Mr Blackburn having no previous findings and the emotional distress this caused the patient.

They did consider a strike-off order but as there was no recurrence of the offence since 2018 and because Mr Blackburn could show he was taking steps to remedy his behaviour they deemed a six month suspension sufficient.

Family members of the patient believe the judgment is not harsh enough.

One said: "I think her mental state must be why the judgment does not record some of the lurid and unchallenged evidence given by her about how Kyle Blackburn treated her.

"He has got away with murder by not being struck off, given the damage he has caused.

"The restrictions imposed on him suggest that the panel was not convinced that he does appreciate the gravity of what he has done and would not repeat it."