A nursery worker who stalked a woman and told funeral directors she had died has been given a warning by her professional watchdog.
Emma Johnston caused fear and alarm to two women for more than a year between February 2020 and March 2021.
While employed at Hazlehead Primary School Nursery in Aberdeen, Johnston contacted funeral and crematorium services pretending one of the victims had died.
The woman, aged 71, suffered from leukaemia and was shocked to receive calls and letters from funeral directors informing her of her apparent death.
She also made false claims to the police alleging domestic abuse and benefit fraud.
The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of causing fear or alarm by stalking at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in July last year and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Now the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has considered her case.
At the time of the offences, Johnston was working as a senior early years practitioner at Hazlehead Primary School in Aberdeen.
‘Disregard for wellbeing of others’
Although she never put anyone within the school at risk, the SSSC said her convictions “reflected badly on the profession” and concluded her fitness to practise has been impaired.
The determination states: “Social service workers are expected not to behave, while inside or outside of work, in a way which would bring their suitability to work in social services into question.
“Your behaviour showed a disregard for the wellbeing of others, for the law and for the time and resources of the organisations that you contacted under false pretences.”
The SSSC said they did not believe she is likely to repeat her offences and does not present an ongoing risk to the public.
Her cooperation throughout the investigation and the fact no concerns have been raised in her new employment, within the sector, were also highlighted as factors in her favour.
However, her lack of focus on the impact of her actions on the victims and the reputation of the profession contributed to the council’s final decision.
Johnston has been issued a warning on her registration for three years, which the SSSC believes “adequality marks” her behaviour as unacceptable.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “Ms Johnston is no longer employed by ACC. We would not comment on individual cases, and nor would we comment on a decision taken by an external body.”