Former Rollers manager Paton cleared of rape claim

TAM Paton, the former manager of the Bay City Rollers, has been cleared over allegations he tried to rape one of the band members at the height of their fame.

Following a lengthy investigation, police said there is "insufficient evidence" to substantiate the claim against the 69-year-old.

Former guitarist Pat McGlynn and singer Les McKeown made the complaint in 2003. They claimed the alleged attack took place in a hotel room while the band was on tour in 1977.

Mr Paton said that he had been interviewed under caution, fingerprinted and DNA-tested during the investigation.

He described the lengthy investigation as "a nightmare" and claimed he was being victimised because he was gay.

He added that he was now thinking of leaving Edinburgh to live in Portugal.

Mr Paton, who lives in a mansion in Gogar, on the outskirts of the city, said: "It has been decided I have no case to answer. I am relieved, but I knew I had done nothing wrong. There is no way I tried to rape him. I was always confident it would go away.

"I am gay, and if you are gay in this country you are considered to be a pervert," he claimed.

"I've had to put up with this sort of thing for years. Scotland is a very jealous country and I'm someone who has done well. I'm looking to move to Portugal."

A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "Allegations of a historical sexual nature were made to Lothian and Borders Police in 2003.

"We investigated them and consulted with the procurator-fiscal and concluded there was insufficient evidence."