Care worker accused of sexual assault

Man alleged to have attacked colleague on several occasions

A Tayside care assistant is being accused of sexually assaulting a colleague during a shift as they looked after vulnerable elderly residents.

Laurence Baltazar is facing allegations that he tried to kiss the woman, who cannot be named, on December 15 2015 at a Perthshire Care Home.

He is then said to have stated: “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, please keep our secret. I feel so guilty.”

A further allegation states that he again attempted to kiss the same woman, put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so that she was facing away from him.

He is then said to have pulled down her trousers and underwear and said “shush, shush, shush – you be quiet” or words to that effect, before sexually assaulting her.

Mr Baltazar is further alleged to have unzipped his trousers and sexually assaulted the woman again, stopping when he heard someone along the corridor and saying “we’ll finish this later”.

He is also accused of grabbing his colleague’s face and putting his tongue inside her mouth, putting his hand inside her tunic and touching her breast.

The latter incident was alleged to have happened on February 3 2016.

Mr Baltazar has denied the allegations and claimed that the woman had in fact tried to kiss him, to which he said he replied: “stop, I’m a married man”.

The alleged incidents were reported to police, but a decision was taken not to prosecute.

However, a Scottish Social Services Council hearing is now being held at Dundee’s Compass House to determine Mr Baltazar’s fitness to practice.

The woman, referred to as the witness, gave evidence while Mr Baltazar did not attend.

Nicola Guild, solicitor for the SSSC and case presenter, said: “In this case it’s very much the word of the witness against the word of the worker.

“The witness gave evidence that they had been in a room with a resident who had been feeling ill.

“They cleared up and she was in the bathroom when she felt his (the worker’s) presence behind her.

“She turned around and said ‘what’s going on’.”

The events described in the February 3 allegation were then said to have taken place.

Ms Guild described the woman as an “assertive” and “assured” witness.

She added: “The panel has to make the decision whether to place faith in the witness’s words.

“She described in detail what happened and was clear in her reasons for doing it. She said she would not want it to happen to anybody else.

“There was a delay in her reporting the incidents, but this is not uncommon among those who have experienced sexual assault.”

The hearing continues.

“In this case it’s very much the word of the witness against the word of the worker