Paisley carer who kissed colleague against her will and asked for 'sexy underwear' images struck off

A Paisley support practitioner who kissed a colleague’s neck against her will and asked for “sexy underwear” photographs, among a host of other allegations, has been struck off.

Gerald McAnally was employed as a support practitioner with the Richmond Fellowship Scotland in 2021 when the incidents occurred.

Between or around February 27 and 28, McAnally asked his co-worker if she had “secret lovers hidden in cupboards”, or words to that effect.

Following this, between or around March 8 and 31, he asked the same colleague – called ZZ to maintain her anonymity – for images of her in “sexy underwear”, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found.

After she responded to the request with a picture of a dog, he suggested she should “try a lesbian relationship” and offered to set her up with a woman.

In the same period of time, McAnally told ZZ he had sexual feelings for her, and suggested that the pair “could have sex together”.

The next month, on or around April 23, he sent her multiple messages of a sexual nature – he said “it’s very hot, you should wear something loose and low cut”, “are you having a laugh with that top”, “I will cut it into a sexy low cut crop top”, and invited her to visit him at a sleepover.

Days later, on April 25, McAnally kissed her on the neck without her consent, the SSSC said.

The next day, he continued to make sexually motivated comments like “shops are open if you need any sexy underwear”, followed on April 27 by “if I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me”.

In a hearing, the SSSC found that all of the allegations were proven and, since he had caused ZZ emotional harm, his fitness to practise was impaired.

The watchdog concluded that, contrary to what is expected of social service workers, McAnally made “repeated, suggestive and abusive comments” towards his colleague.

“Your sexually motivated actions risked causing and did cause emotional harm to your colleague,” it said.

His actions were found to be a breach of trust with regards to his employer, and disrespectful to ZZ.

It said: “Placing a colleague in a vulnerable and distressing position has the potential to impact their work and therefore the level of care provided to service users.

“Your behaviour was persistent over a period of two months, despite ZZ asking you to stop, which demonstrates a disregard for the welfare of others and your responsibilities under the SSSC Codes of Practice.

“Your behaviour demonstrates values issues which are fundamentally incompatible with professional registration.”

The SSSC concluded that, since McAnally’s actions could have damaged the reputation of the profession, he would be removed from the register effective January 4.

STV News has contacted Richmond Fellowship Scotland for comment.