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.

But it was only when he was caught stalking the boy again in August 2009 that Preston was charged with “conducting himself in a disorderly manner” and “placing [the 16-year-old] in a state of fear and alarm”.

Preston was suspended by the council and later dismissed. In April this year he pleaded guilty to breach of the peace at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and was given a £200 fine.

A conduct sub-committee of the Scottish Social Services Council found Preston’s behaviour had been “sexually motivated” and said there was a risk he would continue to stalk the boy in future.

“The two incidents showed a very concerning pattern of behaviour,” the sub-committee said.

It concluded that there would be a genuine risk to the public, including service users, if Preston was allowed to continue practising. Preston is the first residential childcare worker to be struck off since compulsory registration for this workforce group was introduced in Scotland in 2009.

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