‘Gary Glitter’ e-mailer allowed to continue social work

A social worker who circulated an e-mail apparently showing Gary Glitter carrying a child in a plastic bag has been allowed to continue practising in Scotland.

James Mina was employed as a child care officer by South Lanarkshire Council in August 2008 when he forwarded an e-mail to his son with the subject heading “Gary Glitter at Duty Free”.

It showed an image of convicted sex offender Paul Gadd, known by his stage name Gary Glitter, carrying through customs a shopping bag apparently containing a child.

In forwarding the e-mail, Mina had disregarded several of his employer’s IT policy statements, the Scottish Social Services Council found. However, a conduct sub-committee decided that this had no long-term implications for his professional practice.

The SSSC decided to allow Mina to continue practising as long as he undertakes training on workload management, employer policies, personal and professional boundaries, social work values and appropriate communication.

Mina was one of 12 staff disciplined by South Lanarkshire Council for sending the e-mail in 2008. He was later dismissed.

The SSSC has already struck off another South Lanarkshire social worker, William Simpson, who forwarded the e-mail and three others with racist, sexist and homophobic content to people outside the office between July 2007 and September 2008. He claimed there was an “e-mail sub-culture” at South Lanarkshire Council.

Charles Devlin also faces misconduct charges. His hearing is due to continue on 20 August.

In England, a children’s services manager who forwarded a similar “Gary Glitter” e-mail was cleared of misconduct by the General Social Care Council in May.

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