logo
Care worker struck off for sending sexual messages to officer posing as child

Care worker struck off for sending sexual messages to officer posing as child

STV News3 days ago

A Scottish social care worker has been banned from the profession after sending sexual messages to a police officer posing as a child.
Noel Boyd was convicted of sending inappropriate messages regarding sexual activity to a girl who he believed was under the age of 13 between November 27, 2023 and November 29, 2023 at Stirling Sheriff Court
The social care worker asked the girl, who was actually an undercover officer, for images from her and from her school friends and attempted to communicate indecently with a younger child.
Boyd failed to disclose that he was charged with the offence while employed as a support practitioner by The Richmond Fellowship Scotland.
The Scottish Social Services Council found that Boyd's behaviour displayed 'a disregard for the wellbeing of vulnerable people.'
Their report outlined: 'The behaviour raises significant public protection concerns.
'There is a clear need to protect vulnerable individuals who use social services, in particular children, from the risks associated with your behaviour.
'There would be substantial concerns if you were allowed to continue 'to work with vulnerable people.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Drug policy reform campaigner Peter Krykant dies aged 48
Drug policy reform campaigner Peter Krykant dies aged 48

The Herald Scotland

time4 hours ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Drug policy reform campaigner Peter Krykant dies aged 48

Mr Fitzpatrick later lost his job after Scotland's drugs deaths soared to 1,264 in 2019. Krykant, who battled his own addiction issues, said his mobile injection room saved lives and argued for similar facilities to be set up to cut Scotland's soaring drug deaths. Peter Krykant in the converted ambulance, which allowed drug users a safe space to inject (Image: Mark F Gibson) It has been reported that he was found dead at home in Falkirk . He faced police charges over the ambulance, but these were later dropped. He said: "We are all deeply saddened to hear of Peter's passing. 'Everyone from the Scottish Greens is thinking of his family and friends at this extremely difficult time. "Peter was a tireless campaigner for a fairer, more compassionate approach to handling drug misuse and addiction, and his campaigning has left such an important legacy in the UK's first safe consumption room in Glasgow. "His advocacy for drug reform, and of course, his yellow van have no doubt saved countless lives in Scotland." Police Scotland have said that no suspicious circumstances surround the death at Krykant's home in Larbert, Falkirk, on Monday this week. Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, who had helped man the mobile service, which was regarded as illegal at the time, said 48-year-old Krykant's efforts had helped make significant changes to Scotland's drugs policy. READ MORE: Mr Sweeney told The Daily Record: 'I'm shocked and saddened to hear of Peter's death. We can't underestimate the contribution he made to the drugs debate in Scotland, which came amid many years of increasing overdose deaths. 'He undoubtedly played a major part in changing policy in a political a system that was very much set in its ways and resistant to the kind of radical change that Peter advocated.' Earlier this year, The Thistle safe drugs consumption facility opened in Glasgow after years of political wrangling between the Scottish and UK governments, allowing those who inject drugs like heroin and cocaine a safe place to do so, with medical professionals on hand should they be needed. The centre has seen 17 overdoses since it opened, according to service manager Lynn Macdonald in March, some of which she believes would have resulted in death had staff not stepped in.

Barking heard during search for missing therapy dog in the Highlands
Barking heard during search for missing therapy dog in the Highlands

STV News

time9 hours ago

  • STV News

Barking heard during search for missing therapy dog in the Highlands

People searching for a missing therapy dog in the Highlands have reported hearing barking in the area where he disappeared. Louie, adopted as a therapy dog for his owner Louise Manson's daughter, who lives with epilepsy, ran off after slipping his lead near Steall Falls in Glen Nevis on May 26. Louise has since led an 'emotional and tireless' campaign to find her pet, supported by a Facebook group with over 1,200 members. Fort William resident Iona Macdonald also launched a GoFundMe campaign to support the search for the Golden Retriever, with over £2,690 being raised, smashing its original £2,000 goal. The search has been backed by volunteers, and Louise said the family has left clothes and food out in the hope that Louie will catch the scent. In an update shared on the Finding Louie Facebook group, the mother said that barking has been heard – indicating the Golden Retriever is nearby. She wrote: 'More barking has been heard yesterday, but it could be coming from anywhere. Which is a positive. We have been given other positive information, which indicates he's 100% alive yesterday. 'We were out again last night at Steall Falls until late. Clothes are out, food has been left, and a wildlife camera has been set up in the hope we can narrow down his location and get him home. 'We think with the falls being so busy, he's scared and in hiding during the day. 'We have been told, shouting his name may make him want to hide further away. 'So its a case of just seeing where he is and trying to tempt him. We are confident we will get him home…its just taking longer than hoped. 'Again, thank you for your help, messaging, searching, and all your kind words. It's all helping so much at this time.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

Edinburgh MP calls for urgent action on prostitution including ban on 'pimping' websites
Edinburgh MP calls for urgent action on prostitution including ban on 'pimping' websites

Scotsman

time9 hours ago

  • Scotsman

Edinburgh MP calls for urgent action on prostitution including ban on 'pimping' websites

Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MP Tracy Gilbert has called for urgent action to tackle demand for prostitution and sex trafficking, including a ban on 'pimping' websites. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In a debate at Westminster, Ms Gilbert said she wanted to turn the spotlight on men who used prostitutes but preferred to remain invisible. She said: "Sex buyers rely on being unseen while they ruin lives, leaving us as a society and the individual women to pick up the pieces of the carnage they cause. Edinburgh North & Leith Labour MP Tracy Gilbert has called for urgent action to tackle demand for prostitution | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The demand from men who pay for sex fuels a brutal prostitution and sex trafficking trade. It funds predatory websites that make millions of pounds advertising women for sexual exploitation every day and causes untold trauma to some of society's most vulnerable women while undermining equality for all women." She said research had found 3.6 per cent of men in the UK admitted to having paid for sex in the previous five years. Those most likely to have paid for sex were single, aged between 25 and 34 and in managerial or professional occupations. And she said In Edinburgh over the weekend of June 7-8, some 142 women were being advertised for prostitution on one pimping website alone. Ms Gilbert said demand for prostitution was "not inevitable" and the law could had a critical role in deterring it. One UK study which asked over 1,200 sex buyers whether they would change their behaviour if a law was introduced that made paying for sex a crime found over half said that they would definitely, probably or possibly change their behaviour. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'While sex buyers are driven by male sexual entitlement, ultimately, they do it because they can. The law is not just failing to stop these men; it is making it easy. Not only is paying for sex legal in England, Wales and Scotland, so are the pimping websites advertising thousands of women each day for sex buyers to choose from. 'These websites function as massive online brothels. They are the go-to place for traffickers to advertise their victims. Pimping websites are making it as easy to order a room and to sexually exploit as it is to order a takeaway.' Ms Gilbert welcomed the Bill introduced in the Scottish Parliament by Edinburgh Eastern Alba MSP Ash Regan, which seeks to make the purchase of sex a criminal offence. And she backed amendments tabled for the Crime and Policing Bill at Westminster to outlaw pimping and paying for sex, and remove sanctions for soliciting. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Replying to the debate, junior Home Office minster Jess Phillips praised Ms Gilbert's passion and said she too had a long-standing interest in the issues raised. 'For too long, women and vulnerable people have been trapped in sexual exploitation under the guise of prostitution. The daily abuse that they suffer is truly horrific,' But she said legislation alone did nothing. 'We have to look at legislative models and at what will actually work. I am only interested in actual outcomes.' She added: 'As the minister, I will use every lever available to me to clamp down on sexual exploitation. The Government's position will be informed by the views of victims and survivors, the voluntary and community sector, which works directly with victims and survivors, the police and others.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store