Ex-Bay City Rollers manager accused of operating paedophile ring

A child abuse survivor has told an inquiry he is "100% certain" that former Bay City Rollers manager Tam Paton operated a paedophile ring in Edinburgh in the 1980s.

The man, now in his sixties, told the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry that as a young teenager he was taken to parties attended by "professional people" on the outskirts of the city and given alcohol and drugs.

He said, on one occasion, he thought he was "going to be killed" after pulling a knife on one abuser who claimed to be a judge.

Paton, who died in 2009, was jailed in 1982 for three years after admitting the sexual abuse of 10 boys over a three-year period.

The man, giving evidence under the pseudonym "Murphy", told the inquiry he had been sexually assaulted by an associate of Paton, John "Sticky" Wilson.

Wilson was jailed for 12 years in 2022 for multiple historic sexual offences involving teenagers.

He said he was beaten on the head, bundled into the boot of a car and taken to Ponton House - a boys' residential home in Fountainbridge - where he was attacked by Wilson.

"Murphy" told the inquiry those running Ponton House at the time did nothing to stop him being groomed by Paton's associates who regularly came and went from the facility.

He said that after being blackmailed and threatened with violence he later became an enforcer for Paton and recruited other young boys for parties.

"Murphy" said Paton liked to show how powerful he was and believed he walked free from a police station after being caught with a gun because Paton "talked to his friends in high places"

Paton managed the Bay City Rollers during their most successful period in the 1970's.

The Scottish Child Abuse previously heard that he had pled guilty to the 1982 offences after more serious charges were removed from the indictment.

The Inquiry was set up to investigate the abuse of children in care in Scotland.

Chaired by the retired judge, Lady Smith KC, it is hearing how, where and when abuse took place and the effect it had on survivors.

A statement on behalf of the Ponton Trust was given at the opening of the inquiry's latest phase in January.

It said: "The trustees of the Ponton Trust unequivocally condemn and abhor any such abuse and offer an apology to any young person who was subjected to abuse while residing at the Ponton House Boys' Residence."