A woman wept as she told a hearing yesterday (May 24) how a Lewisham social worker shaved off her pubic hair and bought her leopard print knickers.

Lemuel Peter repeatedly had sex with the service user while working as care co-ordinator for the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, it was said.

The woman, referred to as Service User A, wept as she told the Health and Care Professions Council she met Peter while receiving treatment from Lewisham social services.

She said: "He was meant to see how I was progressing mentally and see if I was taking my medication.

"He would visit me in the evenings at my home, sometimes from 5pm.

"I had made a comment that I didn't like my lips, and he leant forward, kissed my lips and said they were nice lips.

"Between April 2011 and August 2011 Lemuel Peter and I had sex on three occasions.

"Each occasion had been at my house.

"He would leave my house after we had sexual intercourse.

"Each time he came to the house he put his hands on my body and pulled me towards him.

"He would sit on the sofa and pull me onto his thigh.

"We also engaged in oral sex, though I cannot recall how many times this occurred.

"It happened on the sofa, in the downstairs living room and in my bedroom."

Service User A told the panel Peter shaved her pubic hair off.

She said: "He did this with a shaver that he brought with him to my home."

Service User A told the hearing Peter bought her a "small female shaver" as a gift, as well as underwear.

She said: "The underwear consisted of several pairs of knickers, one of which was a leopard print pattern.

"This was around the time I'd ended the relationship in August 2011."

She added: "I said that I wanted to end the relationship because I knew it was wrong.

"His response was he was ok with the personal relationship ending."

After the relationship ended, Peter's work visits to Service User A became less frequent, the tribunal heard.

Service User A said: "He would visit my home once a week but sometimes not at all.

"I would telephone him and he would not return my telephone calls."

The woman reported Peter to social services three years later and contacted police but no charges were brought against the social worker.

When panel chair Claire Bonnet said Peter denied having sex with her when questioned by detectives, Service User A told the panel: "He is a liar, a total liar".

Denise O'Brien, who works as an adult mental health manager for Lewisham Social Services, said Service User A did not want a male social worker.

Ms O'Brien said: "Prior to leaving hospital, she had said that she did not want a male social worker, however she eventually agreed."

She added Peter failed to attend interviews when asked to discuss the allegations and resigned in April last year.

Peter is also accused of hugging another woman, known as Service User B, in her own home.

If the HCPC panel finds his fitness to practise is impaired by reason of misconduct he could face being struck off.

Peter is not attending the hearing in central London which continues.