Shamed Kilwinning care worker banned

A FORMER boys’ football club coach who bought drink for a 15-year-old and let him drive through a busy town centre has been banned from working with children for three years.

Childcare worker George Gillon, 53, who ran Corsehill Boys’ Club and also acted as a scout for Ayr United among other teams, was found guilty of a string of offences that put children in his care “at risk” after a two-day misconduct hearing last week.

Gillon bought alcohol for an under-age boy in care, allowed him to drive a car through Irvine, made “inappropriate comments of a sexual nature”, and took two children in care – one aged 14, and one 15 – to his own home in Kilwinning.

The charges amounted to a serious breach of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) code of conduct rules and Gillon has now been struck off the social service workers register for bringing the profession into disrepute.

An SSSC sub-committee misconduct hearing in Dundee heard that Gillon was especially popular with one 15-year-old boy because he bought him booze and allowed him behind the wheel of his works car. Gillon was found guilty of seven misconduct charges.

Gillon, who was sacked on July 1 last year, has 14 days to appeal the SSSC decision.