No prison for sex abuse soldier

The sheriff said it was not in the public interest to jail Orr

An Army officer who sexually abused young girls has walked free from court.

The sheriff at Perth Sheriff Court said it was not in the public interest to jail Christopher Orr, who needs help for his "complex problems".

Orr, 38, had previously admitted tricking the youngsters into touching him, by getting them to hunt for coins in his pocket, which had a hole in it.

He has been placed on probation and the Sex Offenders Register and will carry out 180 hours of community service.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie expressed sympathy for Orr and told him it "would be difficult for him" to come to terms with being a paedophile.

The sheriff said: "I am quite clear that it is not in the public interest simply to put him in prison for a short period of what would be a few days.

'Explore issues'

"Work should be done with him to address his complex problems. I am not considering custody.

"This may be extremely difficult for him because he may need to explore issues he would prefer not to explore."

The court was told that Orr - who serves with the 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland - was due to return to Redford Barracks in Edinburgh shortly.

He is currently on sick leave, and is scheduled to be discharged from the Army next year.

However, the court heard that he faces a court martial in England next month, relating to a military conduct matter.

Orr, from Edinburgh, previously admitted committing the indecency offence against the seven and eight year olds in Inchture in Perthshire during 2002.

The court had been told that Orr made the girls continue playing his "hunt the coin" game even after they became upset.

The soldier then rewarded the children with cash to go and buy sweets.

His crime came to light five years later when one of the girls told her parents what had happened.