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UK Former ‘Glam Rocker’ Gary Glitter Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse

By Anne Sewell
Published on: 22:09 PST, Feb 5, 2015

Former British pop star and “glam rocker” Gary Glitter has now been officially found guilty for child sex abuse crimes he committed over 30 years ago.

Glitter, 70, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was convicted in a U.K. court Thursday of one count of attempted rape of a girl under the age of 13, one count of having sex with a girl under the age of 13 and four counts of indecent assault against girls, two aged under 13 and two aged under 16.

All six offenses, which involved three victims, occurred between 1975 and 1980. Glitter’s sentence is to be announced on February 27.

Gary Glitter
Gary Glitter in AVRO’s TopPop (Dutch television show) in 1974

Dubbed a “glam rocker” during the 1970s for his flamboyant performing style and clothing, Gary Glitter sold 18 million records, including hits like “I Love You Love Me Love,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah!).”

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Orchard of London’s Metropolitan Police was quoted as praising the courage of the victims, who came forward so many years after the crimes had been committed.

He said after the verdict was announced that Gary Glitter, or rather Gadd as he was named in the court case, has shown himself to be a habitual sexual predator and that his lack of remorse made the crimes even more indefensible.

“Paul Gadd has shown himself to be a habitual sexual predator, who took advantage of the star status afforded to him by targeting young girls who trusted him and were in awe of his fame.”

“His lack of remorse and defense that the victims were lying make his crimes all the more indefensible. I am pleased the jury was able to see through this.”

The Telegraph reports that the story might have come out earlier. In 1992 Gary Glitter appeared on the popular U.K. TV show, “This is Your Life” where people from a celebrity’s past share memories of that person and their life.

One such person who walked out on the stage was Tessa Dahl, daughter of children’s author Roald Dahl and mother of the model Sophie Dahl.

When she walked out onto the stage she told host Michael Aspel how Glitter stayed in her home and her sister, Lucy, brought “adolescent schoolfriends” to visit Gary Glitter at the Dahl house, charging them £5 each “to gaze at Glitter”. An excerpt of the show is included below.

As Dahl mentions the girls arriving in school uniform, Glitter can be seen shifting uncomfortably in his seat, which possibly hinted at his sexual deviancy at that stage as well as his concern that she might be about to embarrass him.

IOL News reports outrage over the fact that Glitter was granted legal aid to fight the sexual abuse case, despite the fact that he is wealthy, owns a London home worth £2 million and apparently receives around £300 000 in royalties each year. The child abuse charities were horrified that a sex offender of his nature could plead poverty and use taxpayers’ money to hire a top lawyer.

The crimes involved in this case were not the only sexual abuse charges against Glitter, however. Back in 1999 Glitter was jailed for four months after admitted to the possession of child pornography. Glitter was found out after sending his laptop in for repair, where a technician discovered the evidence.

Gary Glitter was also convicted of sex offenses against young girls while living in Vietnam and was jailed for almost three years before his deportation back to the U.K.

It remains to be seen how stiff a sentence Glitter will receive on February 27, but the Telegraph theorizes that he could end up dying in jail.

[Images: Gary Glitter CC by-SA AVRO Paul Gadd Screengrab from YouTube video]

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