Former Bay City Roller escapes jail on child porn charges

One of the founder members of the Bay City Rollers pop group today escaped jail for possessing child pornography.

Derek Longmuir, 49, who was a drummer with the Scottish band which achieved chart success during the 1970s, was sentenced to 300 hours of community service at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

He had pleaded guilty at a hearing earlier this month to having indecent films, videos and photos at his Edinburgh home, some of which showed sex involving children.

Longmuir, of Queens Park Court, who has been suspended from his job as a nurse at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, refused to comment as he left the court.

Police found the material after a raid on his home in September 1998 following a tip-off. Longmuir claimed it had belonged to an American friend.

He also admitted making indecent photos of children at his home in March 1998.