CHILDREN'S HOME WORKER IN SCOTLAND STRUCK OFF FOR STALKING BOY
A residential childcare worker who stalked a 16-year-old boy has become the first children's home worker to be struck off in Scotland.Graham Preston, a former Perth and Kinross Council employee, was questioned by the police after following the boy down a road in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in October 2008.
He was later caught stalking the boy again in August 2009, leading to charges of conducting himself in a disorderly manner and placing the boy in fear and alarm.
Preston was suspended and dismissed, and in April he pleaded guilty at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to breach of the peace and was fined £200.
A Scottish Social Services Council conduct sub-committee found his behavior was 'sexually motivated' and warned of the risk of future stalking.
The committee concluded that allowing Preston to continue practicing posed a genuine risk to the public, including service users.
Preston is the first residential childcare worker to be struck off since registration for this workforce group was introduced in Scotland in 2009.
