INVERNESS SUPPORT WORKER STRUCK OFF FOR CHILD ASSAULT IN PETERHEAD
An Inverness support worker has been stripped of his professional license after being convicted of assaulting a child while on duty.Richard Wetherall, who is based in Inverness, was working in Peterhead when he assaulted a young boy, which led to criminal charges and a court appearance.The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) reports that Mr Wetherall was convicted on November 1 last year.The report stated: “You were convicted of assaulting AA, a child in your care, to the danger of his life.”It was also noted that this incident was not isolated but was part of multiple instances from January 8 to 23 of the previous year.
Details reveal that Mr Wetherall repeatedly seized the child by the neck, pulled him, placed him in a headlock, and held his nose to restrict breathing.
His actions extended to dropping him onto bedding and using excessive force to control or move him.Actions by Richard Wetherall were ‘deliberate and prolonged’The report described his conduct as “deliberate and prolonged,” with each instance involving multiple assaults on a vulnerable child.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) panel determined that due to his conviction and behavior, his fitness to practice was substantially impaired.The panel stated: “Your actions were abusive and demonstrate serious values and attitudinal issues.
You failed to treat AA with dignity and respect and did not work in a lawful, safe, and effective manner.
Your actions were an abuse of trust, placing AA at significant risk and falling far below the standards expected of a social services professional.”The decision was to remove Mr Wetherall from the social services register, as no other sanctions were deemed appropriate given the severity of his conduct.
The panel emphasized that his behavior—described as “deliberate and prolonged”—involved multiple assaults on a vulnerable individual, making the sanction necessary to protect the public and uphold professional standards.
