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

William Gardner, 75, took Daniel McSwiggan 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 Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire and Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

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.

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But when he went into Wishaw General to fill machines, Mr McSwiggan, 69, wandered off.

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

Gardner, of Giffnock, has appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he admitted breaching health and safety laws by leaving Mr McSwiggan alone in September 2013.

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

He said: “On September 12, 2013, Mr Gardner picked up Daniel McSwiggan from his home in Glasgow at 12.30pm.

“He then went to Wishaw General Hospital and left Mr McSwiggan alone smoking.

“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.

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“The police established a missing person investigation and Mr Gardner and the chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland searched for him until 9pm that evening.

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

The court heard Gardner ran a business called Feet & Co which operated machines selling socks, tights and equipment for training shoes.

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.

When he was assigned to Mr McSwiggan, he was informed the pensioner required constant supervision.

The charity conducted an internal investigation and Gardner admitted he had made a ‘terrible mistake’. 

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He was suspended from his role and resigned before disciplinary proceedings took place.

Sheriff Ray Small deferred sentence on Gardner for background reports until October.

He told him: "I’m going to keep an open mind until I have seen a social enquiry report and heard from your solicitor in mitigation.”