A Johnstone carer assaulted a child after being threatened with a plank of wood that had nails sticking out of it.

Paul Young put the boy in a headlock and punched him repeatedly leaving him injured after the incident happened on 27 March 2019.

Now he has been given a warning by the Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) for his actions.

The care watchdog took action after reporting that he was convicted on 7 June 2022, at Paisley Sheriff Court.

It comes after the vulnerable young person spat on Young so much it left his clothes wet and verbally assaulted him.

The SSSC said the “exceptional circumstances” did not excuse Young’s behaviour but did “place it in some context”.

The SSSC report said: “You have been convicted of an assault of a (Information redacted) child in your care by placing them in a headlock and repeatedly punching them in the head, to their injury.

“This behaviour amounts to physical abuse and harm of a vulnerable young person who was in your care.

“Your behaviour also placed the young person at unnecessary risk of physical and emotional harm and calls into question your suitability to work in the social services profession.”

Young continued to work for the same employer following the incident for a period of over three years until being dismissed as a result of the conviction.

No concerns about his practice had been raised before or after the incident despite a “significant history” of working in the sector with vulnerable young people.

The SSSC report continued: “On the date in question, there were exceptional circumstances and the incident was particularly heightened.

“You were working with two other staff members who accepted to your employer they had failed to follow the young person’s behavioural support plan.

“This exacerbated the situation and resulted in the young person approaching you with a plank of wood with nails in it.

“The young person was attempting to assault you, spitting at you to the extent your clothes were wet.

"(Information redacted) was also verbally abusing you.

“While the circumstances do not excuse your behaviour, it does place it in some context.

“It indicates an exceptionally heightened situation which appears unlikely to happen again.

“There have never been any other concerns with your professional practice or interactions with young people.

“As a result of this, the SSSC has concluded that your behaviour is not necessarily reflective of a core values issue and most likely arose in the context of a very difficult situation you found yourself in at the time.”

Young will have a warning on the SSSC register for four years.