THE social work chief ultimately responsible for supervising paedophile Steven Leisk who murdered Aberdeen schoolboy Scott Simpson is taking early retirement. Alex Hamilton, assistant director of social work, controlled the criminal justice team within the council.

He has refused to say why he is quitting his #43,000-a-year job, but stated he ''wants to go quietly''. Mr Hamilton, who is in his fifties, revealed that the senior social worker responsible for monitoring Leisk had not followed Scottish Office guidelines.