A paramedic who exposed himself to a female colleague and sent explicit messages to junior staff has been struck off the health and care profession register. Gavin Boa, 33, was convicted of five sex offences in May 2024 but avoided jail, receiving 150 hours of unpaid work instead.
Details of the Offences
Boa's harassment campaign began in May 2023, just three months after his marriage. He exposed himself to a female colleague at the Paisley ambulance base on December 3, 2023, during a break. The victim testified that she “froze” when Boa performed a sex act in front of her. Earlier that shift, he had twice asked her for sex and demanded she show him her breasts before moving the ambulance from a call-out to a sick patient. The woman stated, “He wouldn’t move the ambulance until I did. I felt completely ashamed.”
Over seven months, Boa also bombarded two junior female colleagues with graphic porn and explicit messages, and asked one to have sex with him. He was in a senior position responsible for signing off junior staff training. During his trial at Paisley Sheriff Court, Boa claimed that sexualised behaviour was part of the “culture” at the ambulance service.
Regulatory Action
Following his conviction, the Health & Care Professions Tribunal Service (HCPTS) suspended Boa in September 2024. In a later hearing, his fitness to practise was deemed “impaired” due to the conviction, leading to his removal from the register. He was also banned from contacting his two victims for a year and placed on the sex offenders register for two years.
Impact and Response
After the conviction, the Scottish Ambulance Service put up posters across bases warning staff against sexual harassment. The move was criticised by politicians who called for stronger measures to protect workers, especially women. A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Any form of sexual misconduct is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the Scottish Ambulance Service.”
