Published: Wednesday, 25th June, 2008 09:00
Former paramedic on sex charge found dead
By David Knox
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A FORMER paramedic from Hawick has been found dead near Ashkirk just hours after appearing in court on child sex charges.
Rod Stewart was accused of lewd and libidinous practices towards three young girls over a six-month period in his home at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.
The 44-year-old made a brief private appearance and was released on bail.
His body was found during the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning at the loch side of a nature reserve at Haremoss.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police would only say: ”We can confirm that a 44-year-old man has been found dead and there are no suspicious circumstances.
“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."
The married father-of-two was a well-known figure in Hawick and was a past-president of the 1514 Club.
Stewart also worked with the Scottish Ambulance Service as a paramedic for more than 15 years and was a regular after-dinner speaker.
He even appeared as a contestant on Anne Robinson’s Weakest Link several years ago.
However, last August Stewart made a private appearance at Selkirk Sheriff Court on two charges of being in possession of indecent computer photographs of children.
He resigned from his job soon afterwards and the case had yet to still be resolved in court.
Stewart had lived in The Loaning area of Hawick with his wife Pamela for the past 15 years along with their son and daughter.
Yesterday a neighbour said:”Everyone is in total shock at what has happened.
“In a way he seems to have taken the easy way out and there is a lot of sympathy for his family who have been left behind to deal with it.
“Rod was obviously a troubled person.”
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