A SENIOR youth worker employed to help vulnerable teenagers took up to £100,000 earmarked for youth charities and organisations, it has been alleged.

Steven Ralf offered counselling and support to 11 to 25-year-olds while working for Hastings Detached Youth Work Project, run by East Sussex County Council.

But it is alleged that he took up to £100,000 fromhis employers.

The council has now issued a High Court writ against Mr Ralf which accuses him of defrauding the authority and various youth charities of the money.

Mr Ralf was hired by the council as a youth worker in September 1992 and promoted to a senior post in Hastings in April 1994.

His team offered advice on everything from pregnancy to drugs and ran groups for young mothers, homosexuals and young women.

He was a full-timeworker with three other staff at the project which offered support to young people. His job also included one-to-one counselling of abused and suicidal teenagers.

Additionally he ran confidential drop-in sessions for pupils at The Grove School in St Leonards and gave out condoms and HIV leaflets to male prostitutes near Hastings seafront.

But early last month he resigned his post after allegations were made to the council that he was keeping grants, donations and subsidies which should havebeen used to help young people.

A spokeswoman for the authority said: "The allegations are he committed a gross breach of trust and defrauded the county council and other public bodies of money earmarked for the youth service."

In addition to the civil action, issued on March 18, she said the council was working with Sussex Police which may launch an investigation to establish if a crime has been committed.

Mr Ralf, who is in his thirties and lives in Birchington, Kent, was unavailable for comment.

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