Former pop star Gary Glitter charged with sexual offences against a girl under 14 dating back to 1978
British prosecutors have charged 82-year-old former glam rock singer Paul Gadd, known as Gary Glitter, with unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, all allegedly committed between 1978 and 1981.
The new charges
The Crown Prosecution Service announced on 2 July that Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, faces one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. The alleged abuse took place at a residential address in Kensington, London, between 1978 and 1981. The victim, now a woman, reported the allegations to the Metropolitan Police on 9 January 2025, and Gadd was interviewed by officers on 22 July 2025. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 August.
This follows allegations made by a woman relating to a period of alleged abuse that took place between 1978 and 1981.
The Metropolitan Police said the victim is being supported by specialist officers and has been informed of the development.
A pattern of convictions
Gadd is already serving a 16-year prison sentence imposed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980, including attempted rape of a girl under 10. He was released on licence in February 2023 but recalled to prison weeks later for breaching licence conditions; a parole bid was denied in 2025. The CPS noted that the new charges follow a lengthy investigation and are separate from the earlier cases.
- Convicted for possessing child pornography; jailed for four months.
- Deported from Cambodia over suspected sex offences.
- Convicted in Vietnam for obscene acts with minors; sentenced to four years in prison.
- Sentenced to 16 years for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980.
- Released on licence; recalled weeks later for breaching conditions.
- Allegations of historic abuse reported to Metropolitan Police.
- Interviewed by police in relation to the investigation.
- Due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on four new charges.
Career and fall from grace
Gadd rose to fame in the 1970s as a glam-rock star, selling 18 to 20 million records with hits such as "Do You Wanna Touch Me" and "I Love You Love Me Love". He spent 180 weeks in the UK Singles Chart and became a household name, but financial troubles left him bankrupt by the end of the decade. His first criminal conviction came in 1999, when he was jailed for four months for possessing thousands of child pornography images. After his release he moved to Cambodia, only to be deported in 2002 over suspected sex offences. In 2006 a Vietnamese court convicted him of obscene acts with two girls and sentenced him to four years in prison.
Investigation and court process
The latest allegations were reported in January 2025 and led to a Metropolitan Police investigation. Gadd was interviewed in July 2025 before being charged. Bethan David, deputy chief crown prosecutor at CPS London, said prosecutors had worked to establish sufficient evidence and that bringing the case is in the public interest. Gadd will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 August, the first step in what could be a further sentence if convicted. He remains in custody at HMP Channings Wood.
