Council angered as sex offender report authored by women is rejected

Shetland Islands council’s director of community services
has attacked a court decision to throw out a pre-sentence report on
a sex offender because it was written by two female social workers,
writes Sally Gillen.

Jacqui Watt, who has responsibility for education ands social work,
said: “We are shocked and horrified by the decision. Not only
does it undermine the credibility and professionalism of our staff
but where will this lead?”

The report was written about a man who admitted drilling holes in
walls and spying on a girl from the age of nine to 16, who he later
detained her against her will.

But a Sheriff who heard the case at Glasgow High Court last month
dismissed the report, and required another by Aberdeen city
council, which he said should have at least one male author.