Former British pop star Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, has been charged with non-recent sexual offences, according to a statement from Thames Valley Police. The 82-year-old is accused of multiple sexual offences against a girl under the age of 16, alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2003.
Details of the Charges
The charges include three counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of causing or inciting a female child to engage in sexual activity. The alleged offences took place in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, England. Glitter was arrested on June 28, 2026, and subsequently charged on July 1. He has been released on conditional bail pending a court appearance at Reading Magistrates' Court on July 31.
Previous Convictions
Glitter has a long history of sexual offences. He was convicted in 1999 for possessing child pornography, and in 2006 he was found guilty of sexually abusing two girls, aged 12 and 13, in Vietnam, for which he served nearly three years in prison. In 2015, he was convicted of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one count of having sex with a girl under 13, all committed between 1975 and 1980. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and released on licence in February 2023 after serving half of that term.
Impact and Reaction
The new charges have sparked renewed outrage and concern over the handling of historical sexual abuse cases. Thames Valley Police Detective Inspector James Senior said: “We take all reports of sexual offences seriously, no matter how long ago they are alleged to have taken place. We are committed to investigating such cases and bringing offenders to justice.” Glitter's legal team has not yet commented on the charges.
Glitter, known for hits like “Rock and Roll Part 2” in the 1970s, has seen his music largely banned from airplay and streaming platforms following his convictions. The case highlights ongoing efforts to prosecute non-recent sexual offences in the UK.
