Former UK pop star Glitter charged with sex offences

UK prosecutors have charged former pop star Paul Gadd, better known by his stage name Gary Glitter, with unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14.

The charges relate to allegations of sexual offenses against a child dating back to 1978, the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement.

“This follows allegations made by a woman regarding alleged abuse that occurred between 1978 and 1981,” said Assistant Attorney General Bethan David.

Glitter will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London on August 5.

The Metropolitan Police said the allegations were first reported to police on January 9 last year and Gadd was questioned in relation to the investigation on July 22, 2025.

The 82-year-old rose to fame as a “glam-rock” star in the 1970s, before being repeatedly convicted and jailed for child sex crimes.

Gadd is serving a 16-year prison sentence imposed in 2015 after being convicted of sexually abusing three female students between 1975 and 1980.

He was released on license in 2023, but was recalled to prison weeks later for breaching license conditions.

The CPS has charged Paul Gadd, known as Gary Glitter, in connection with recent uncommitted sexual offences. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 5 August 2026 for a first hearing. Read more here: https://t.co/h6Kfm3j7X2 pic.twitter.com/CvYJeXd0iY — Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) July 2, 2026

He was first imprisoned in 1999 for possession of child pornography and later moved to Cambodia, but was deported in 2002 on suspicion of sexual offences.

In 2006, a Vietnamese court found him guilty of committing obscene acts with two girls, ages 10 and 11, and sentenced him to four years in prison.

After his release he returned to the UK.

with PA