LONDON (CelebrityAccess) — Former glam rocker Gary Glitter is facing life behind bars after being convicted on sex abuse charges stemming from the 1970s and '80s.
Glitter, also known by his given name Paul Gadd, was convicted in a London court on one count of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.
Gadd denied all of the charges and was acquitted of three other charges during the trial, however the BBC reported that police are investigating new information relating to other potential victims.
Victim testimony in the case painted Gadd as someone who used his celebrity status to exploit young women.
"[Gadd had] shown himself to be a 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," Det Ch Insp Mick Orchard of the Metropolitan Police told the BBC. "his lack of remorse and defence that the victims were lying make his crimes all the more indefensible."
Gadd was the first person to be arrested in the sweeping Operation Yewtree sexual abuse investigation, which also targeted a number of other celebrities, including broadcast personality Jimmy Saville.
This conviction isn't the first brush that Gadd has had with the law in connection with the sexual exploitation of children. In 1997, Gadd was arrested and sentenced to 4 months imprisonment after being caught with child pornography on his computer. In 2005, Gadd was charged in Vietnam with committing obscene acts with two girls, aged 10 and 11. He was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison, but claimed he had been framed by the tabloid press.
Gadd remains in custody and faces sentencing on Feb. 27th. – Staff Writers
