‘Children’s home staff trussed and gagged boy’

TWO children’s home staff wrapped a schoolboy in Cling Film and gagged his mouth with tape, a professional hearing was told.

Richard Burnell and Kyle Johnson allegedly bound the teenager’s legs and arms in the kitchen Cling Film, with the packaging tape over his mouth.

The boy’s mother later found photos and videos of the Cling Film incident on his social media account and alerted the authorities.

A Social Care Wales fitness to practise hearing was told the pair were also caught on video telling the teenager to “f*** off” and to “w*** yourself stupid”.

Presenting officer Delme Griffiths said the two project workers were working at Arthog Children’s Home in Gwynedd when the boy was put in for an emergency placement.

Mr Griffiths said the video showed the teenager sitting on a sofa with Cling Film around his arms and legs. He said: “His hands and feet are tied together and there is a tape across his face covering his mouth.”

Mr Griffiths added: “We say the video and the comments made speak for themselves. It would always be inappropriate to tie and bound a young person in this manner.

“By its very nature this is an inappropriate act in any circumstances.”

The hearing was told the teenager claimed the workers had been “having a laugh” and did not want to take matters further. Police found there had not been any emotional abuse and no charges were brought.

Videos also showed the two workers swearing at the teenager in a caravan while music is playing.

The hearing was told the home has 33 staff and houses seven young people on short-term placements of up to 90 days.

The hearing was told Johnson had not yet undergone safeguarding training at the time of the incident in 2018 because there was a shortage of staff at the training company.

The hearing continues.