Borders social work boss resigns

Blame fell on Borders Council over the Miss X abuse case

The man in charge of Borders Council social work department has announced his resignation.

Colin Johnson's department was heavily criticised over its handling of the Miss X sex abuse case.

Three men, including a carer, were convicted last year of raping and torturing a woman with learning difficulties.

It later emerged that social workers had been warned that Miss X was at risk.

An inquiry also found that the council's failures prolonged her months of sex abuse.

No specific reason was given for Mr Johnson's decision to step down, but a caller to BBC Scotland, claiming to be a Borders social worker, said an inspectors' report due in November would be damning.

Now is the time to do the right thing and ensure that Colin Johnson remains in his post until this investigation is over Christine Graham MSP

The caller claimed that Mr Johnson was told to resign or be fired.

But Nationalist MSP Christine Grahame said Mr Johnson should "stay to face the music".

She said that it would be "totally unacceptable" for him to leave before the inspectors' findings are published.

Ms Grahame said: "Borders Council has already received vast criticism over the handling of the Miss X Case and perhaps now is the time to do the right thing and ensure that Colin Johnson remains in his post until this investigation is over."

Mr Johnson was not actually in his post during Miss X's ordeal, he had been seconded to deal with the council's education overspend crisis.