A psychological counsellor who worked in North Yorkshire has been expelled from his professional body for having sex with a patient.

But Timothy Naylor, 39, could still carry on working despite being thrown out of the British Psychological Society (BPS) after a disciplinary panel heard he had unprotected sex with a vulnerable woman patient who came to him for therapy.

He began seeing the woman as a private client before starting work for Harrogate Health Care Trust. When she complained to the trust in June 1999, he was suspended, an inquiry was held and he was sacked. The society refused to release details of Naylor's address, but it is thought he may live in York.

The disciplinary committee was told by BPS counsel Patricia Hitchcock that Naylor began seeing the woman in June 1997 after she suffered a case of alleged medical negligence.

"A personal relationship developed during the therapy and in October 1997 the client stated that Mr Naylor had unprotected sex with her on at least one occasion."

The woman also said Naylor told her "it was a continuing problem, he couldn't control himself and had done it many times before," said Ms Hitchcock.

The psychologist, who holds a degree in theology and went on to obtain psychology diplomas and certificates, did not appear at the hearing in London.

Ms Hitchcock said he denied some of the allegations, but accepted that the relationship was wrong.

In a letter to the BPS, Naylor said the relationship had arisen because of his "inexperience and naivety". He said that the five months of therapy sessions became "increasingly emotionally intense".

"The client made it very clear that she wished the relationship to be much more than client and counsellor," it went on.

"Personal and professional relations were becoming blurred. I lacked the training and experience to deal with this."

Since the affair he had undergone six months of psychotherapy, had relationship counselling with his wife and 120 hours of further training, the panel was told.

Naylor was charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a client, practising outside his field of competence, failing to get proper supervision and meeting a client in inappropriate situations.

The panel unanimously found the charges proved, ruling that he did have an inappropriate sexual relationship and expelling him from the organisation.

Graham Saunders, chief executive of Harrogate Healthcare Trust, said the woman had always been a private client of Naylor's.

He said: "There has never been any suggestion that whilst he was working for us anyone else he was counselled had any complaints about his work as a counsellor."

After the hearing, BPS chief executive Barry Brooking admitted the verdict would not prevent Naylor working as a psychologist and said the BPS was pressing for a statutory registration system to be set up.

"In theory, anyone can say 'I'm a psychologist'."