A Scotsman besotted with a woman, stalked her by inundating her with videos of himself performing songs. This man, Douglas Boal, has since been sanctioned by a health care oversight body.
Besides this, Boal is said to have tried to initiate ‘inappropriate relationships’ with two individuals in vulnerable situations while he was employed as a housing support worker.
After ending this job, the 62-year-old, who resides in Aberdeen, reached out to both women by letter, giving them his personal contact information.
He communicated to one woman that she was one of his ‘best friends’ and asked for her email address.
Further details came forward as the Scottish Social Services Council disclosed that Boal was found guilty of harassment aimed at a former colleague. This conviction was decreed by Aberdeen Sheriff Court in April 2023.
This harassment included sending the woman recurrent unwanted text messages and emails containing links to YouTube video performances that he had crafted specifically for her.
Despite being requested to stop, Boal implored her to visit his residence and expressed that he was ‘in love with her’.
The SSSC concluded that he had violated professional boundaries by trying to form relationships with the individuals utilising the service.
They stated, “Because of the severity of your actions, and your lack of understanding and engagement, there is an ongoing risk to public safety and interest arising from your behaviour. Social Service workers must not form inappropriate relationships with people who use services.”
The findings of the SSSC addressed his conviction where he was fined £320, stating, “You consistently sent text messages and emails to that offence’s victim. You also solicited them to visit your home address and declared your love for them”
The SSSC ended by expressing that Boal’s actions were serious and he demonstrated no insight or remorse for his behaviour or its potential impact on the victims. As a result, the SSSC declared a Removal Order as the most suited sanction to protect the public interest and uphold the trust in the social service profession and the SSSC as the profession’s regulator.