Sheriff lets paedophile soldier walk free

Published on Wednesday 23 January 2008 15:12

AN Army officer who got two young girls to fondle him walked free from court today after a sheriff told him there was little point in jailing him.

Warrant Officer Second Class Christopher Orr, 38, was put on the Sex Offenders' Register for three years at Perth Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie told the married soldier it "would be difficult for him" to come to terms with being a paedophile.

The sheriff said: "It is not in the public interest simply to put him in prison for a short period."

Orr, of Gilmore Place, Tollcross, was also ordered to undergo psychological counselling and to do 180 hours of community service.

The court was told that Orr – who serves with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland – was due to return to Redford Barracks shortly. He is due to be discharged from the Army next year.

Orr, formerly of Inchture, Perthshire, previously admitted committing the indecency offence in 2002. He forced two young girls to fondle him by playing "hunt the coin" in his pocket, Perth Sheriff Court previously heard.