Police probe Rollers' rape accusation

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2003 01:00

POLICE are to investigate an allegation of attempted rape against ex-Bay City Rollers manager Tam Paton after former band members made a formal complaint to city detectives.

Former Bay City Roller front man Les McKeown and band mate Pat McGlynn visited Howdenhall Police Station to outline their accusation against their former manager.

They claimed he had threatened them with violence if they spoke out about the rape allegations.

The ex-superstars are claiming that Paton tried to rape former guitarist Mr McGlynn 26 years ago in a hotel room while the band was on tour in Australia.

But Paton has hit back and said he would take legal action against the pair, claiming they were trying to drive him to suicide.

Mr McGlynn claims Paton sacked him from the band because he threatened to speak out and that he had since made around 15 attempts to tell police about the alleged ordeal but had been ignored.

The pair branded Paton a paedophile and said he should be behind bars as they turned up at the Howdenhall station yesterday. After making the complaint, Mr McGlynn, 45, said: "I have lived with this for 27 years and have spent most of that time trying to get someone to believe me."

Mr McGlynn, who lives with his wife, former model Janine Andrews, and their four-year-old daughter in Edinburgh, said he was delighted Mr McKeown had finally decided to speak up for him.

"I was sacked from the band because I was going to expose it. We were all threatened to keep our mouths shut."

Mr McKeown, 48, claimed he had to pull 26-stone Paton off Mr McGlynn when he came across the scene. The former frontman, whose book Shang-a-Lang, Life as an International Pop Idol, will lift the lid on Rollermania, said he had not spoken out before because he feared for his life and appealed for other victims to come forward. The pair are to give police full statements separately on October 9 and 10.

Paton, who was jailed for three years for gross indecency against two teenage boys in the 1980s, denied the claims. Speaking from his home in the Gogarburn area of the Capital, the former music guru said: "It’s unbelievable what some people will do to sell a book.

"I am meeting my QC later on to discuss legal action against the two for making these absurd claims. Any money I make in court will be given to charity.

"I have never heard so much rubbish in my life. I feel they are trying to get me to commit suicide, but I am stronger than that. I will win this. They have been trying to tarnish my reputation for years.

"I would love to get this into court. These people have had every opportunity to tell police about these claims and never have. They know I got 500,000 for royalties and they are trying to get some of it."

A police spokeswoman said: "Two men have made complaints to the police, which will be investigated."