Gadd in custody. Image: Met Police

Former glam rock musician Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, has been sentenced to sixteen years in prison for six offences of sexual assault.

The offences date between 1975 and 1980 and were committed against three underage girls.

They included indecent assault, attempted rape and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years of age.

The 70 year old from Marylebone was convicted of these offences earlier this month at Southwark Crown Court after a three week trial.

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Gadd arriving at Southwark Crown Court on February 5th.

Judge Alistair McCreath said:

I have read the victim impact statements of all three victims. It is clear, in their different ways, they were all profoundly affected by your abuse of them.

You did all of them real and lasting damage and you did so for no other reason than to obtain sexual gratification for yourself of a wholly improper kind.

The assessment of the harm caused by sexual offending is not easy in the immediate, or near immediate, aftermath of it. But where the offending took place many years ago, it is a great deal easier.

In reference to his first victim the judge observed: ‘It is difficult to overstate the depravity of this dreadful behaviour.’

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Orchard from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said:

Paul Gadd has shown himself to be a habitual sexual predator, who took advantage of the star status afforded to him by targeting young girls who trusted him and were in awe of his fame. His lack of remorse and defence that the victims were lying make his crimes all the more indefensible.

I would like to commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward. The courage and strength required to report allegations of this nature cannot be underestimated; and without their testimonials we would have no case to bring to court.

Paul Gadd was the first individual arrested under Operation Yewtree. This goes to highlight the complexities involved in dealing with offences of this nature and our determination to pursue all lines of inquiry.