Paramedic ‘posted offensive messages’

A PARAMEDIC posted inappropriate and offensive messages on social media after he didn’t get a promotion, a hearing was told.

Clayton Blight is accused of posting comments on Facebook after he didn’t get the job at the Welsh Ambulance Service – targeting his former boss and colleagues online.

Messages such as “worthless bunch of lying, snidy, balding, inexperienced, uneducated, backstabbing, spineless, **** kissing, nepotistic, gutless, false, pretnenders (sic) and evil people” and “You are fat, bald, hopelessly unqualified at your job and not respected by any of your peers” were posted on his account after losing out on the role, a Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) panel in Cardiff heard.

He now faces 11 allegations for posting inappropriate and/or offensive messages online and faces being struck off for professional misconduct.

The panel heard Blight joined the Welsh Ambulance Service in 1986, but in April 2014 a new job for a special operations manager opened up, and he applied. He didn’t get the role because he was not registered with the HCPC and didn’t have the requisite driving licence, said presenting officer Stephen Ferson. His colleague Ben Collins got the job.

But the HCPC heard Mr Blight then took to social media to post messages aimed at Mr Collins and his former boss, Christopher Sims.

Mr Sims, who was head of operations at the time, told the panel four staff members saw the posts on Mr Blight’s Facebook page and alerted him to them over a few months. They took screenshots emailed them to Mr Sims, as he himself did not have Facebook. Mr Sims told the panel he was confident they were after Mr Collins had been promoted.

Mr Sims reported Mr Blight to the HCPC. Mr Blight left the Welsh Ambulance Service in April 2016 but continued to post messages online, the panel heard.

Mr Sims said the images and messages were targeted at him and Mr Collins because they had been doctored to look like the pair. Pictures of cartoon characters such as Asterix and Oberlix and The Muppets were given bald heads, goatees and glasses to resemble Mr Blight’s former bosses’ appearances and appeared with the messages online.

Mr Sims said he felt “threatened” by one of the posts. when Blight posted: “Am I getting to you.

Mr Blight did not attend the hearing, which continues.