John Mair was said to have left the 10-year-old "screaming in fear" after clicking the lighter close to his face, resulting in a flame or sparks.

Scotland's care watchdog said Mr Mair's behaviour amounted to "emotional abuse".

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said: "The boy's development is delayed, and he requires more support than other young people of the same age.

"Your actions resulted in a flame or sparks from the lighter. Your actions caused [the boy] distress."

Mr Mair, who denied clicking it close to the youngster's face and argued he thought the boy would "enjoy the noise", reportedly said: "Stroke the lighter, it's your friend."

The council said his behaviour fell "well below" the standards expected of a worker entrusted to care for vulnerable people.

It added: "The boy had shown that he was distressed and so you knew or ought to have known that by showing him the lighter again you risked causing him further distress."

Mr Mair also swore back at the youngster during a separate incident the day before, which the SSSC branded "verbal abuse".

In addition, Mr Mair was said to have shown a colleague a still image from an explicit video of himself with an unknown person.

He then showed a second colleague an explicit video of himself with an unknown person.

The watchdog said his actions caused his colleagues "discomfort and embarrassment".

The watchdog added: "Showing your colleagues a sexually explicit video or a still image from a sexually explicit video is behaviour which again falls short of the standards expected of you as a registered worker."

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The council redacted where the incidents took place, but confirmed they took place around July and August 2021 while Mr Mair worked for Applied Care and Development Ltd.

The watchdog ruled that Mr Mair's fitness to practice was impaired, noting: "Your actions are fundamentally incompatible with employment in a trusted and caring profession."

The SSSC added that during the employer investigation, Mr Mair "did not show any real insight, regret or apology".

In conclusion, the watchdog said a removal order was the "most appropriate sanction" to maintain the "continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession".

The removal order came into effect on 23 September.