Glasgow carer struck off after he was caught hitting disabled man on camera

A social care worker caught assaulting a disabled man on camera has been struck off the care register.

Michael Gitongu hit the man multiple times in February 2023 while he was employed as a support worker by Clinical 24 Staffing Limited in Glasgow.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said Gitongu slapped the man’s torso, forcefully hit him twice on the arm, hit him with a large exercise ball which he threw directly at him, repeatedly and forcefully hit the sofa he was sitting on, and made threatening gestures towards the man in an attempt to frighten him.

Gitongu was convicted at Perth Sheriff Court in July 2024, for the same incident of assaulting a man by seizing him on the body, pushing him on the body, making threatening gestures, seizing him by the body, and pulling him.

The court determined the assault was “aggravated by prejudice relating to disability”, according to the SSSC.

Gitongu has been formally struck off the care register and banned from working in the industry again.

The regulatory body for Scottish social work said the assault was caught on camera and verified by a witness who saw Gitongu hit or slap the other side of the sofa where the care user was sitting.

“The video evidence is clear and compelling,” the SSSC said. “This observed behaviour by [Gitongu], a large man towards a [information redacted] on the face of it is abusive and bullying behaviour.”

The report said Gitongu was “not interacting with [the care user] in a positive manner” before the assault.

“You provoked [the man] by flicking the lights and raising your arms to scare and intimidate him. The assaults were clear in the footage,” the SSSC told Gitongu.

The regulator said there is “no explanation” as to why Gitongu’s training, or lack of it, would justify this behaviour.

“The behaviour can only be described as being physically and emotionally abusive towards AA, with his rights and dignity being dismissed by you,” the report said.

“This behaviour occurred in AA’s own home, a place where he should feel safe. You abused the trust placed in you to care for a highly vulnerable individual.”

The SSSC concluded it had no choice but to strike Gitongu from the care register.