A MAN in charge of a bus offering beds to the homeless is a former pornographer who made adult films shot in the back of a truck.

Jim Deans said his youth growing up in the "rough end" of Glasgow has helped him through his "interesting life".

But while he said he is not ashamed of his porn past, Jim has now faced criticism from locals about his work with Sussex Homeless Support.

Jim 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 Glasgow.

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.

For the last six years Jim 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.

He told the Evening Times's sister paper The Argus: “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 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.

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.