Paton and Kelly released on bail after allegations of child sex abuse

THE former manager of the Bay City Rollers, the Seventies pop band, and Matthew Kelly, the television presenter, were released on bail yesterday after being questioned as part of an inquiry into sexual abuse against young boys.

Tam Paton, 64, who managed the hugely successful band for 11 years, was released on bail last night after being questioned since Wednesday evening by Surrey Police officers at a police station in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland.

Paton, a multi-millionaire property developer, was arrested at his home in Edinburgh as part of the sexual abuse inquiry that led to the conviction of Jonathan King, the pop mogul. Paton is due to answer bail at an unnamed police station on 12 March.

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Following his release, he was immediately arrested by Lothian and Borders Police for questioning over alleged drugs offences.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed the arrest of a 64-year-old man and that he will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today in connection with drug offences. It is understood that a large quantity of drugs, worth in excess of 20,000, was found during searches at Paton’s home in the capital.

Kelly, 52, from Chiswick, west London, was released on bail at about 3pm yesterday, after being questioned by Surrey Police officers about the same claims of sexual abuse. He is due to answer bail at Guildford police station on 12 March.

The presenter of the television show Stars in their Eyes was arrested on Wednesday at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where he is playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan. He returned to the stage there last night. A statement released by his solicitors at Kingsley Napley, said: "Mr Kelly emphatically denies the allegation made against him, which has come as a complete shock and surprise. He has co-operated fully today with the police and will, of course, continue to do so should that be necessary. It should be noted that he has been released without charge."

Both Paton and Kelly were held in connection with "historic allegations" of sexual abuse against boys under 16, police said. A police spokesman said the recent arrests were not part of Operation Ore, the inquiry into users of a child pornography website in the United States.

It is believed the accusations all date from the Seventies and that the inquiry has been ongoing for several months.

A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said: "It is a joint investigation rather than two separate ones."

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