Conduct reprieve for ‘Gary Glitter’ e-mailer

A children’s services manager who circulated offensive e-mails about convicted sex offender Gary Glitter has been cleared of misconduct by the General Social Care Council.

Kieron Vosper admitted forwarding the two e-mails from his work account while employed as a practice manager by Devon Council between August and September 2008.

One e-mail contained an image of Glitter, whose real name is Paul Francis Gadd, walking through customs carrying a bag apparently containing a child. The other contained an image in which Glitter appears to be fishing for a swimming baby.

Vosper, who was not present at the conduct hearing but whose comments from an interview were considered as evidence, has maintained that he did not absorb the full content of the e-mails.

He said he did not see the child’s face when he accessed and forwarded the first e-mail, and the conduct committee found this to be a credible explanation.

The committee also accepted Vosper’s claim that he forwarded the second e-mail to colleagues because he did not understand it.

It concluded that, even if Vosper had seen the full content of both images when he forwarded them, “such behaviour would not be misconduct as defined in the rules”.

Earlier this year, William Simpson, an experienced social worker formerly employed by South Lanarkshire Council, faced misconduct charges for circulating four offensive e-mails, including the one of Gary Glitter apparently carrying a child in a bag.

The Scottish Social Services Council removed him from the register.

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