A children's hospice nurse who was caught downloading indecent images of youngsters has been struck off.

Stephen McCusker, who worked at Rachel House hospice in Kinross, admitted downloading 1740 images at his home in Glenrothes, Fife, after he was arrested in 2013.

The 49-year-old avoided being struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) last year but he has now been banned from the profession.

No children there came to any harm from McCusker. He had worked there for eight years before the offences came to light.

At a hearing in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in 2014, McCusker's lawyer said he had quit his job at the hospice as soon as the charges came to light.

He had told police he was "interested in viewing males and females aged ten to 16" when he was arrested.

When asked to explain his actions during a police interview he said "no excuses, it's not sexual, curiosity mixed with wine".

He admitted downloading 1740 indecent images over a four-year period at his home in Glenrothes.

Sheriff Derek O'Carroll placed him on the sex offenders register for three years and ordered him to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

At an NMC hearing in 2015, he avoided being struck off and was given a year-long suspension from nursing.

His case was reviewed by an NMC panel last week.

Panel chairwoman Ilana Tessler said: "The panel concluded that Mr McCusker has disengaged from the regulatory process and has therefore provided no evidence of any reflection, remediation, insight or remorse."

She added: "Mr McCusker has been convicted of a serious crime and has chosen to disengage with the NMC.

"In light of all these factors the panel determined to impose a striking-off order."