THE man in charge of a bus which offers beds to the homeless is a former pornographer who made adult films shot in the back of a truck, The Argus can reveal.

Jim Deans manages the charity Sussex Homeless Support which last December converted an old double-decker bus into an overnight shelter with room for 16 rough sleepers.

But in the 1990s and early 2000s, in the adult film industry, he went by the name Phil McCavity and filmed and produced a series of films called Sex Truck.

The movies were scripted along the lines of the risque “Confessions Of A...” series, but with X-rated sex acts filmed in the back of a small mobile home.

Many were filmed around his native Glasgow although Sex Truck 12 is strap-lined “Brighton and London”.

Deans also worked with his then-girlfriend, British porn star Violet Storm, on films such as Cyber Porn 1 and Bike Sex Fest. The pair were the subject of a BBC documentary in 2003.

And his production company Devlin Media Ltd was involved in the scandal surrounding the sex tape of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos.

In her autobiography, Miss Contostavlos wrote that her ex-boyfriend, who shot and shared the clip, contacted a former porn star who contacted Mr Deans about distributing the sex tape. Mr Deans told The Argus the matter was never brought to court.

For the last six years Jim Deans has played a growing role in charity work for rough sleepers in Brighton and Hove, including volunteering at the Purple People Kitchen foodbank and for Sussex Homeless Support.

Yesterday he said: “Everything I did was BBFC [British Board of Film Classification] classified, I made maybe 20 or 30 movies.

“Everything I’ve done has been legal and above board.”

Asked whether he could sympathise with those who might have concerns about his involvement with vulnerable young men and especially women, he said: “Sex Truck was a comedy frankly.

“Yes it had adult content but it was like Benny Hill.

“The scripts all had the girls getting the better of the guys. Everyone involved was an actor.”

Mr Deans told how, 30 years ago, he came to Brighton as a criminal on the run. Wanted for crimes related to his life as a getaway driver he slept on the beach.

He said: “I met some great people in Brighton, who helped me really turn my life around.

“I’ve been there, I’ve lived it.

“Now I’m trying to help people in that situation.

“And I’m helping where the council has really failed people.”

He said the Sussex Homeless Shelter bus, which is safety rated to carry more than 70 passengers, had a record 19 rough sleepers arrive at its door last Sunday when the city council closed its own winter shelter for the last time.

Mr Deans said: “I don’t know whether I’m ashamed or not. My past is my past. If I went back, I don’t know if I’d do it again.

“But I come from the rough end of Glasgow, where you learn to fight and survive and not give up.”

Yesterday afternoon the 57-year-old posted a brief biography on facebook.

He wrote: “I have had a very colourful life. I have worked in many areas and been involved in everything you could imagine.

“I have also worked in the adult film industry, as producer/director and even an actor 20 odd years ago. I have dealt with many shady organisations including the Mafia and travelled the world doing so. I have also sat on Parliamentary groups beside Lords and MPs so not sure which end was the worse.”

He added someone in a position of authority was “lying” and “trying to close the bus down.”

There was an outpouring of more than 70 messages of support in response.

One Facebook user wrote: “You can probably relate to people more than a lot of others. If you’re doing this in your own free time to help others who gives a toss. Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Another wrote: “You’re an earth angel, let them say what they like, you are an honorable man who’s doing a great job.”

Another wrote: “With all that life experience behind you no wonder Brighton’s homeless are getting help that they need from you.”

A fourth wrote: “Your past is your past. You carry on doing the great work you’re doing now.”

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Mr Deans’ background is in the public domain and is not something we feel is appropriate for us to make a judgement on when considering his suitability to support homeless people.”

She said the council had no responsibility for people on the bus but would always investigate if safeguarding issues were raised.

Council officers yesterday met Mr Deans and offered training to volunteers.

FACTFILE

In late December 2017 Sussex Homeless Support opened the doors of its new rough sleeping shelter for the first time.

The shelter is a 1991 double-decker bus which has been stripped of its seats and had 16 beds and mattresses installed.

The bus has passed its MOT but is based overnight outside Concorde Two in Kemp Town

The shelter operates all year round.

More than 50 Brightonians helped with donations and work for the renovation project.

To donate to Sussex Homeless Support go to www.gofundme.com/homeless-and-rough-sleeper-crisis

COUNCIL STATEMENT IN FULL

“Mr Deans’ background is in the public domain and is not something we feel is appropriate for us to make a judgement on when considering his suitability to support homeless people.

“We have no legal reason and no wish to stop people from visiting the bus neither do we have direct responsibility to those people visiting, staffing or volunteering on the bus - however if concerns or issues of safeguarding are raised we will always investigate.

“We care for the wellbeing of everyone working on and using the bus which is why council officers today met with Mr Deans to better understand how Sussex Homeless Support is operating and to see if we could enable support to assure the safety of those using it.

“We have offered training and support to volunteers throughout the operation of the bus and discussed with Mr Deans how he and his team could let us know who is on the bus.

“Adult social care practitioners can only determine whether anyone would be eligible for support following an assessment and this can only be done if a referral is made to us.

“We’re pleased that Mr Deans has said that he will engage with us and with charities and agencies like St Mungos with regards to the short term and longer term future of the bus.”