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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.

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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.

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Rachel Reeves to head to Washington amid hopes of US trade deal

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April 22, 2025

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Rachel Reeves to head to Washington amid hopes of US trade deal

Rachel Reeves will pledge to “stand up for Britain’s national interest” as she heads to Washington DC amid hopes of a UK/US trade deal.

The chancellor will fly to the US capital for her spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the first of which began on Sunday.

During her three-day visit, Ms Reeves is set to hold meetings with G7, G20 and IMF counterparts about the changing global economy and is expected to make the case for open trade.

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Her visit comes after Donald Trump imposed blanket 10% tariffs on all imports into the US, including from the UK, and as talks about reaching a trade deal intensified.

The chancellor will also hold her first in-person meeting with her US counterpart, treasury secretary Scott Bessent, about striking a new trade agreement, which the UK hopes will take the sting out of Mr Trump’s tariffs.

In addition to the 10% levy on all goods imported to America from the UK, Mr Trump enacted a 25% levy on car imports.

Ms Reeves will also be hoping to encourage fellow European finance ministers to increase their defence spending and discuss the best ways to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

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Speaking ahead of her visit, Ms Reeves said: “The world has changed, and we are in a new era of global trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.

“This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will mean for them. But our task as a government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people’s security.

“Instead, we must rise to meet the moment and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our plan for change.

“We need a world economy that provides stability and fairness for businesses wanting to invest and trade, more trade and global partnerships between nations with shared interests, and security for working people who want to get on with their lives.”

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Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Enfield – as victim named

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7 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Enfield - as victim named

A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.

“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”

GVs from SN footage on 20/04/2025 at scene of murder on 19/04/2025 of woman at Gainsborough House, Ayley Croft, Enfield in north London. Ingest 25 NM25 SKY SAF ENFIELD MURDER GVS ENFIELD 2045
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Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield

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The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.

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‘British man’ dies after being dragged out of police station in Ecuador – reports

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7 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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'British man' dies after being dragged out of police station in Ecuador - reports

A “British man” has died after being beaten and set on fire by a mob in Ecuador, according to reports by media in the South American country.

According to reports, the man – who has not been officially identified – had been detained by police after being accused of being involved in a fatal shooting.

Ecuadorian news outlet Ecuavisa reported that the man had been taken to a police station Playas del Cuyabeno, a remote village in the Amazon rainforest.

While there, a group broke into the station and took the man away. He was then set on fire in the street, it is reported, and died from his burns.

Playas del Cuyabeno
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The incident reportedly happened in the Playas del Cuyabeno area of Sucumbios province

Another local report, from EXTRA.ec, said that specialist police units had been slow to arrive due to the geographical conditions of the area – which is accessible by river.

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According to reports, police officers at the station apparently decided they could not intervene when the mob arrived out of concerns for their own safety.

It is understood the UK Foreign Office is following up reports about the incident and working with local authorities to confirm the details.

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