Gary Glitter, a former British rock star, is set to spend the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses against minors. The 78-year-old was convicted of attempted rape, indecent assault, and possessing indecent images of children.
Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, became famous in the 1970s for his glam rock hits, including “Rock and Roll” and “Do You Wanna Touch Me?” However, his career was derailed in the late 1990s after he was convicted of possessing child pornography and fled to Cambodia to escape sentencing.
Glitter’s latest conviction follows a lengthy investigation by British police, who uncovered evidence of his abuse of young girls dating back to the 1970s. The court heard how Glitter had groomed his victims by giving them gifts and attention before subjecting them to sexual assault.
Judge Sarah Munro, who sentenced Glitter, described his actions as “evil and depraved.” She also criticized him for showing no remorse for his crimes and for continuing to deny the charges against him.
Glitter’s case has reignited debate in the UK about the need for tougher penalties for child sex offenders. The government has already introduced measures to increase sentences for those convicted of such crimes, but some campaigners argue that more needs to be done to protect children from sexual predators.