By PAUL THORNTON
Published: Today
FORMER Bay City Rollers manager Tam Paton was released on bail yesterday — because he’s too ill for jail.
Paton, 70 — who has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke in the past — had been in custody for more than a week on drug charges.
He was originally denied bail after his arrest 11 days ago but was allowed home yesterday after a private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
His solicitor Frank Moore appealed the original bail refusal because of Paton’s health fears.
After his release yesterday Paton — who is diabetic and was warned by docs he will die if he doesn’t lose weight — said: “I’m too old for all this. I’m glad to be out and looking forward to getting home. I’m diabetic and on a diet so it was difficult to keep it going in there.”
The pensioner — who ran tartan-clad pop heart-throbs The Rollers during their rise to fame in the 1970s — was arrested in a car park in Edinburghand faces 12 charges.
It is claimed Paton, who built a fortune in property after his split from the band in 1979, was in possession of herbal cannabis and cannabis resin.
He also faces charges of attempting to supply the class C drugs and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. Paton, who lives in a mansion in the Gogar area of the capital, denies the charges.
scottish-sun@the-sun.co.uk
