AIRDIRE CHILDREN'S WORKER JAMES LAPPIN STRUCK OFF AFTER ABUSIVE INCIDENT AT LANARKSHIRE SCHOOL

In April 2021, a disturbing incident unfolded at St Philip's independent school in Airdrie, where a children’s worker named James Lappin was involved in a serious case of physical and verbal abuse directed at a young boy. The school, known for providing education to vulnerable children from across the country, became the setting for this troubling event that left a lasting impact on the victim.

According to reports, Lappin subjected a boy, identified only by the initials AA, to a distressing ordeal in a classroom. The abuse involved physically restraining the boy by placing his hand over the child's mouth and nose, a move that caused significant fear and distress. During this incident, Lappin also verbally assaulted the boy, calling him a “wee b*****d” and threatening to involve the police. The aggressive behavior was so severe that colleagues present in the classroom were compelled to intervene, asking Lappin to leave the room to prevent further escalation.

Despite being asked to step away, Lappin returned shortly after and continued his barrage of shouting and swearing at the young boy. The incident, which took place in March of that year, was reported to the school’s management and subsequently brought to the attention of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). The authorities took swift action, convening a disciplinary hearing to assess Lappin’s conduct.

During the hearing, Lappin, an experienced residential child care worker, chose to seek legal advice and ultimately admitted to the facts of the case. The panel overseeing the case found that his actions posed a high risk of recurrence and decided that he should be permanently barred from practicing in the social services profession. The SSSC’s written ruling detailed the severity of his misconduct, emphasizing that his physical and verbal abuse was unacceptable and damaging.

The ruling stated: “Placing your hand over the young person’s nose and mouth, shouting at him and calling him a ‘wee b*****d’, and threatening to report him to the police was both physically and verbally abusive behaviour. The young person should be able to trust that the adults caring for him will respond appropriately when he is in a crisis situation. The young person requires to be calmed and reassured. Instead, you shouted, swore, threatened him and placed your hand over his nose and mouth.”

The report further highlighted that such behavior demonstrated a loss of self-control and an aggressive attitude that could have resulted in physical and emotional harm, or even a more serious escalation of the situation. Although the incident was isolated, the fact that Lappin returned to continue his abusive conduct after colleagues intervened was particularly concerning. The panel noted the absence of remorse or insight from Lappin, leading to the conclusion that there was a high likelihood of similar behavior recurring in the future.

In light of these findings, the SSSC determined that removing Lappin from the profession was the most appropriate and justified course of action. The decision was made to protect the public, uphold the integrity of the social service profession, and maintain trust in the regulatory body overseeing practitioners in Scotland. As a result, James Lappin was formally struck off from his role, effectively ending his career in children’s care and safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable young people in Airdrie and beyond.