A Bradford psychiatric nurse has been struck off after being found guilty of a string of misconduct charges including having sex with a mentally-ill patient.

William Melvin Hill, a former community nurse and ward manager at Lynfield Mount Hospital who could "charm the birds out of the trees", was struck off the UK nursing register immediately following a two-day hearing in the city.

He will not be able to work as, or call himself, a nurse.

The 54-year-old was found guilty of seven charges of professional misconduct between 1993 and 1996, including having sexual intercourse with an inpatient at the mental hospital on Heights Lane and continuing the relationship after she was discharged.

Taking her on frequent visits to his caravan in Ingleton, she claimed Mr Hill, known as Bill, had threatened to section her and return her to Lynfield Mount if she did not sleep with him.

Further charges included a personal relationship with a patient suffering from a personality disorder and failure to keep records and refer the case to a female member of staff when appropriate to do so.

During yesterday's hearing, his former line manager, Jacqueline Hand, said Mr Hill had engaged in counselling and therapy with patients although he was unqualified to do so.

Describing him as a "ward manager not a therapist," she said Mr Hill had exerted a concerning influence over both patients and nurses. "He could charm the birds out of the trees," she said.

The committee also heard that he had repeatedly taken on cases referred to him for assessment by the probation services, despite warnings not to do so.

The case was heard before the professional conduct committee of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC), which seeks to ensure national standards in nursing.

Mr Hill did not attend the hearing. The committee took the view that he would deny the allegations.

Committee chairman Betty Rush said Mr Hill would be removed from the register with immediate effect to protect the public.

She said: "All clients are to some extent vulnerable to the misuse of power by their carers and by registered nurses. A client may develop a degree of psychological dependence upon nurses during a professional relationship. They must be aware of this and the risks it presents to the working relationship. Mr Hill failed to do so."

The decision means Mr Hill can no longer call himself or work as a registered nurse anywhere in the UK.

UKCC director of professional conduct, Liz McAnulty, today said the organisation's guidance on relationships between practitioners and patients made it clear that it was the responsibility of the registered nurse to maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

She said: "Personal relationships with vulnerable patients are never acceptable. Mr Hill failed to meet these requirements and that is why he has been removed from the professional register."

A spokesman for Bradford Community Health NHS Trust said the outcome of the hearing indicated that the trust's thorough investigations and reporting of the case to the UKCC were appropriate.

"We do not have any regrets about taking that approach," he said.

Mr Hill, formerly of Wilsden, currently lives in Caithness in Scotland and is understood to be working for a mental home in Aberdeen.