A REPORT examining Pembrokeshire County Council’s employment of a paedophile youth worker is now public.

Michael ‘Mik’ Smith, a former senior youth worker with Pembrokeshire County Council was convicted of sexual offences against children and jailed in 2014.

Following a decision by the county council's Cabinet, the report is now available online.

The independent report - commissioned in 2015 - criticised the handling of complaints about Smith by the then head of youth service, adding it was “only luck” that prevented him becoming a foster parent, after the same manager provided a positive reference.

It also examined the way the council handled whistle blower complaints against Smith.

In January 2016, Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the report to be made public.

This was refused by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee twice, following recommendation from officers, and by Full Council, which voted it be referred back to committee again.

The report was subsequently exclusively obtained and reported on by the Western Telegraph.

Speaking on Monday Cllr Stoddart said: “What went on here is an absolutely disgrace,” he said.

“I think the people of Pembrokeshire have a right to know all the facts."

Cllr Stoddart is also calling for an inquiry into inconstistencies in the report.

"This report is incomplete in several respects, the author was restricted to going through council files," he said.

Members of cabinet widely agreed with him, with Cllr Pat Davies saying that the new cabinet needed to show it was a “forward looking new authority” and Cllr Tessa Hodgson adding “the days of cover ups must be behind us”.

Cabinet voted unanimously on an amended recommendation to publish the report and authorise delegation to the cabinet member for wellbeing, Cllr Hodgson, to set up a task and finish group to investigate the issues raised in the report surrounding the circumstances of Mik Smith’s employment and subsequent safeguarding issues.