ABERDEEN SOCIAL WORKER DISCIPLINED FOR CRIMINAL CONDUCT INCLUDING ASSAULT AND LEAKING SEX TAPE
A former social worker from Aberdeen has been disciplined after failing to disclose serious criminal charges to her employer, Aberdeen City Council.Abigail Darbyshire was issued a two-year warning by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), which stated she had a duty to inform her supervisors about her criminal charges in connection with three incidents that occurred over an eight-month period from December 2020 to July 2021.
The SSSC noted that she must engage in bi-weekly supervision sessions with her workplace.
It is understood that Darbyshire has not been employed as a social worker since 2021 and does not plan to return to the profession.
Her convictions include an assault on a person identified only as ‘AA’ where she seized her by the hair and punched her repeatedly, and on the same day, she swore and threw a garden chair at a window, which led to her being charged with threatening behavior.
She was convicted of these incidents at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on October 26, 2021.
The third conviction involved an admonishment for sharing a sex tape of her cheating ex-partner.
She was 20 weeks pregnant at the time she discovered the tape in December 2020.
After confronting her partner, Darbyshire sent the video to her best friend’s partner, as well as to a group chat.
She pleaded guilty and was admonished on April 1, 2022, meaning the conviction was recorded but without further punishment.
In their decision, the SSSC indicated that social service workers must not abuse or harm others and that Darbyshire’s behavior was inconsistent with the values expected of her profession.
When approached, Darbyshire was surprised that she had not been informed about the hearing or its outcome, and she expressed her desire to move on from these incidents.
The SSSC spokesperson emphasized their process of informing workers about investigations and available support services.
