Elderly man died after being lost by moonlighting carer

Support worker took dementia sufferer with him on work trip

A CARER who was moonlighting as a vending machine operator lost a vulnerable pensioner who was later found dead on a golf course.

William Gardner, 75, took Daniel McSwiggan, 69, along with him as he travelled to fill machines at hospital sites.

Gardner allowed dementia sufferer Mr McSwiggan to accompany him as he visited the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, and Wishaw General Hospital, North Lanarkshire.

He worked as a support worker with Alzheimer Scotland and was supposed to take his clients on social outings, but was forbidden to take them on work trips.

However, when he went into Wishaw General Hospital to fill machines Mr McSwiggan wandered off and a search of the area failed to locate him.

It later emerged he used his bus pass to travel to nearby Hamilton, but he was found dead 14 days later on a golf course.

Gardner, of Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, admitted at Hamilton Sheriff Court that he breached health and safety laws by leaving Mr McSwiggan unattended in September 2013.

Depute fiscal Brian Duffy said Gardner left Mr McSwiggan smoking a cigarette outside his car at Wishaw General. Then the pensioner vanished.

The court heard Gardner had picked up Mr McSwiggan from his Glasgow home at about 12.30pm on September 12, 2013 before they had lunch in Coatbridge.

Gardner then travelled to fill a vending machine at the Western General Hospital, leaving Mr McSwiggan alone in the car.

Mr Duffy said he then went to the hospital in Wishaw, again leaving Mr McSwiggan alone standing outside his car smoking. He added: “He said he was gone for five to six minutes and when he returned Mr McSwiggan had disappeared.

“He alerted security at the hospital, who checked their CCTV, and he asked them to contact the police. The police established a missing person investigation and Mr Gardner and the chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland searched for him until 9pm that day.

Mr McSwiggan’s body was found two weeks later at a wooded area at Strathclyde Park golf course. A post mortem examination found the cause of death was hypothermia.

The court heard Gardner ran Feet & Co, which operated machines selling socks, tights and equipment for training shoes at various locations across Scotland.

When he was hired as a support worker by Alzheimer Scotland in May 2012, he was warned he could not operate the business when he was with clients or he would be suspended. The charity conducted an internal investigation and Gardner admitted he had made a “terrible mistake”.

He was immediately suspended from his role and resigned.

Sheriff Ray Small deferred sentence on Gardner for background reports.

The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner reviewed the police’s handling of the inquiry amid concerns raised by Mr McSwiggan’s family.

They concluded it should have been evident Mr McSwiggan was a high risk vulnerable missing person and should have been graded so rather than medium risk.

‘‘ He said he was gone for five to six minutes and when he returned Mr McSwiggan had disappeared