Richmond Fellowship Scotland was found guilty of a breach of health and safety legislation

A major Scottish care charity has been fined £450,000 after a woman it was looking after drowned in the bath.

Richmond Fellowship Scotland was found guilty of a breach of health and safety legislation at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Jurors heard how a “catalogue of errors” by the charity contributed to the death of Margaret Glasgow in June 2016.

The 59 year old had severe learning disabilities and moved to one of the charity’s care homes at Cherry Tree Court, Cambuslang, four weeks before she died.

The court ruled that Mrs Glasgow drowned after taking a bath at some point between 1am and 7am on 10 June, 2016. 

There had also been other issues with her care leading up to the tragedy.

Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull said: “The offence was committed through a series of failures, over a not insignificant period of time, which a person exercising reasonable care would not have committed.”

The court said that health and safety officials believed that steps taken by the charity since Glasgow’s death “allayed any fears she had that such a tragic accident might happen again”.

A spokesperson for the Richmond Fellowship Scotland said: “We offer our condolences once more to Margaret Glasgow’s family. 

“We continue to understand the distress for the family and also to our staff.”

Read the full sentencing statement here.