Gary Glitter guilty of a string of new child sex offences

Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, has been convicted of rape, indecent assault and sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13

Gary Glitter arriving to Southwark Crown Court today appearing on charges relating to historic sex offenses against two young girls. The jury found him guilty. (EPA)

Gary Glitter, the former glam rock star, has been convicted of a string of new child sex offences by a jury at Southwark Crown Court.

The singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, aged 70, was convicted of one count of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.

The former star, who was found guilty by a jury of five men and seven women, faces a life behind bars after the conviction for a string of historic sexual offences against three young girls.

Judge Alistair McCreath told the former star he was remanding him in custody “in light of the verdicts”. He will be sentenced on the morning of 27 February.

Gadd, who had denied all charges, raised his eyebrows and looked shocked in the dock as the verdicts were read, before he blew kisses to a public gallery full of reporters as he was led down to the cells.

He was cleared of two counts of indecent assault and one count of administering a drug or other thing in order to facilitate sexual intercourse.

Gadd was the first person to be arrested as part of Operation Yewtree.

During the trial, three of Gadd’s victims cried heavily as they recounted the abuse suffered

The court heard how Gadd crept into the bed of a schoolgirl who was under the age of 10 and tried to rape her. She escaped being attacked because she moved away from the singer until she was wrapped in a “cocoon” of blankets, before locking herself in the bathroom when the singer later fell asleep.

Another victim, now in her 50s, told the court how she had believed she was “going out” with Gad when she was 12-years-old, the age at which he had plied her with champagne before sexually abusing her.

Baljit Ubhey, chief Crown prosecutor and head of the Crown Prosecution Service in London, said: “Paul Gadd abused his access to young fans in order to give himself the opportunities to assault and abuse his victims. Crimes such as these have repercussions for victims that can last for a lifetime.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Gary Glitter appearing at Southwark Crown Court in London (Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)

”The bravery of the victims and other witnesses in this case cannot be understated and their testimony has been vital in bringing Paul Gadd to justice. I hope today's verdict will be of some small help to these victims.

“It should also provide other victims of sexual abuse with the courage to come forward, knowing their case will be handled with sensitivity and professionalism.”

When asked whether any other complainants had come forward during the course of the trial, a Met spokeswoman said: “Officers have received other information and it is currently being assessed.”

Gadd fell from grace when in 1999 he was jailed for four months after admitting to having 4,000 images of child pornography.

In 2006 he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls in Vietnam, aged 10 and 11. He had previously been expelled from Cambodia over unspecified allegations.

Additional reporting by agencies