Glasgow care worker who used resident’s card to pay bills ‘not thinking clearly’ due to lockdown

Published

2 years ago

April 13, 2023

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A care home worker who used a resident’s bank card to pay for his monthly bus pass, mobile phone bill and an Uber ride was said to be “not thinking clearly” due to lockdown.

Robert Crossan was spared being struck off after his explanation was accepted by Scotland’s care watchdog.

He was working as a senior carer at Jordanhill Care Home in Glasgow at the time of the incidents in April and May 2020.

He used the bank card without the resident’s permission on three separate occasions.

Crossan paid First Bus £53 for a monthly travel pass to get him to and from work. He paid O2 £64.39 for his mobile phone bill to keep in touch with work. And he paid Uber £6.63 to get him home from work due to public transport issues caused by COVID and the time of day.

The resident’s family contacted the care home over the payments and the woman’s bank card was removed from her bedroom for safekeeping.

Crossan, unaware the family had been in touch over the card’s misuse, reported himself to his employer and said he had been “preparing to confess for a few days”.

He tried to pay the money back, but his boss refused and reported the incident to the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

Crossan resigned at the end of May 2020 and reportedly went to the police. The SSSC said there was “no allegation of dishonesty”.

In a written ruling following a hearing last week, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said: “At the time, the country was subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

“These factors caused your working conditions in the care home to be difficult.

“You spent some days off going to the funerals of residents who had died.

“Your evidence, which the panel accepted, was that the combination of factors meant that you were not thinking clearly.”

The watchdog found Crossan’s fitness to practise impaired but said a removal order was “not warranted” and would be “disproportionate and harsh”.

The SSSC instead imposed a warning on his registration for four years.

Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.

Crossan returned to work at the care home in October 2022, where he has been described as an “exceptionally good worker”.

All those who gave evidence described his conduct as “out of character”.

The SSSC branded it a “very serious breach of trust” but accepted Crossan had reflected on his actions and would “act differently now”.

The panel said there was also public interest in “keeping good, committed workers, who can be trusted not to repeat their misconduct, in the workforce”.

The SSSC concluded: “You submitted, and the panel accepted, that an informed member of the public would be willing to give you a second chance.”

Foxcare Ltd, which owns Jordanhill Care Home, was contacted for comment.

UK

Heavy security at Windsor for Trump’s state visit feels ‘American’

Published

2 hours ago

September 16, 2025

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Heavy security at Windsor for Trump's state visit feels 'American'

There has been no expense spared for the UK’s biggest security operation since the King’s coronation.

This time the occasion is both royal and presidential. It is vast and honestly feels, well, American.

The operation has been led by Thames Valley Police, but officers from across the UK will also play a part in the visit.

Windsor is a sea of fluorescent yellow jackets and black and white flat caps. Officers are swarming the town and over the next couple of days will be sending drones into crowds, conducting boat patrols and deploying mounted units in and around the wider area.

Authorities have planned for every eventuality but would not expand on whether the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk had led them to heighten security measures.

The assassination of the US activist may have intensified consideration about potential threats, but authorities have had extensive security plans in the works for months.

Operational firearms commander Sergeant Dan Hatfield explained that the police presence will be heightened – and every plan has been worked on in conjunction with the Secret Service.

“The residents of Windsor and visitors to Windsor are used to seeing a fairly high police presence, including armed police,” Sgt Hatfield said.

“However, for this state visit, they will see an increase in those numbers. Fortunately, I’ve had experience working with the Americans with all the Secret Service. We have a really good working relationship and work fairly harmoniously together to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”

Whether in the air, on the ground or on the water, safety is paramount.

On a visit with the Thames Valley marine unit, Sky News witnessed what their 24-hour patrol of the waterways would look like.

A section of the River Thames that borders the Castle will be closed off during the visit.

Sergeant Lyn Smith, head of the joint operations marine unit between the Thames Valley and Hampshire forces, said this is the biggest event she has worked on.

“The team is highly trained, we are ready for anything that will happen on or around the water,” she said.

“The marine support unit are going to be doing high visibility patrols, some searching, some specialist searching in and around the area, and working with our partners in the Environment Agency to deliver a safe event.

“Similar to President Macron’s state visit, we are still providing capability on the water, it’s just on a larger scale for us.”

Notably, for the first time in any state visit or royal occasion, the section of the Long Walk leading up to the castle has been cordoned off with large white barricades erected to shield the residence from view.

Airspace over the town is also restricted for the duration of the visit, enforced using police drones and helicopters.

Vehicles will be standing by close to patrol officers on the ground, holding their ballistic helmets, ballistic vests and shields if an incident occurs.

Thousands of protesters plan to descend on Windsor and central London during the visit to demonstrate against the president’s trip.

A rally in central London on Wednesday is expected to draw the largest crowd, but protesters from the Stop Trump Coalition have now confirmed plans for a Tuesday event too.

A royal welcome may not be extended by all – but many will be hoping they won’t drown out the pomp for the president.

UK

Google makes £5bn pledge to Britain – but concerns raised over mooted UK-US tech deal

Published

5 hours ago

September 16, 2025

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Google makes £5bn pledge to Britain - but concerns raised over mooted UK-US tech deal

Google is set to invest £5bn in the UK in the next two years, to support growing demands for AI services.

The announcement, which comes as Google opens a new data centre in Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, is expected to contribute to the creation of thousands of jobs, the US tech giant said.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves described it as a “vote of confidence” in the UK economy.

The news comes hours before Donald Trump lands in the UK for a state visit at which he and Sir Keir Starmer are widely expected to sign a new UK-US tech deal.

It also follows reports that ChatGPT parent firm OpenAI, and Nvidia, will also unveil billions of dollars’ worth of investment into UK data centres this week.

The chancellor said the investment would boost research and development, capital expenditure and engineering.

However, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has criticised the proposed deal as a “Silicon Valley stitch-up”, and has demanded that the government put it to a vote in parliament.

He said: “I am really concerned the government is going to agree to a Silicon Valley stitch-up that hands tax cuts to tech billionaires while undermining protections for our children online.”

Sir Ed added: “Parents want protections for children online to be kept in place, not traded away in a backroom deal with tech barons.

“We can’t let the government sign up to a deal that benefits Elon Musk at the expense of the British people.”

Google has confirmed it will invest £5bn into capital expenditure, research and development, and related engineering over the next two years, which will include “pioneering” AI research in science and healthcare through its DeepMind operation.

The Silicon Valley firm said the investment will help the UK grow its AI economy and contribute to technological breakthroughs, improvements in cybersecurity and job creation.

Google predicted the investment will help to create 8,250 jobs annually at UK businesses.

DeepMind co-founder and chief executive Demis Hassabis said: “We founded DeepMind in London because we knew the UK had the potential and talent to be a global hub for pioneering AI.

“The UK has a rich history of being at the forefront of technology – from Lovelace to Babbage to Turing – so it’s fitting that we’re continuing that legacy by investing in the next wave of innovation and scientific discovery in the UK.”