Gary Glitter breaks down crying in court and blames child abuse images on being 'in a very bad place in my life'

'I lost my dignity': Singer apologises to fans

Former pop star Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London, 28 January, 2015 (PA)

The former glamrock star Gary Glitter broke down in tears in court today as he tried to explain why he was found with a stash of child abuse images on his computer.

The 70-year-old, whose real name is Paul Gadd, apologised to his fans and said that he had been in “a very bad place” at the time.

Glitter appeared in court to deny one count of attempted rape, seven charges of indecent assault, and two other sexual offences.

And he sobbed in the dock as he was questioned about the “large number” of child abuse images, depicting sexual activity taking place between men and very young children, for which he was arrested in 1997.

“I was in a very bad place in my life at that time and I had a lot of very serious decisions to make about my future,” he said.

He issued a tearful apology to his fans saying: “I lost my own dignity, and I am so sorry. I am very sorry. I am sorry today and every day of my life ever since.

“I was drinking heavily, I was doing drugs, and the other thing of course is that I had to find this money to pay for the legal costs and studio, and I was asked by my management to seriously do the one thing which was absolutely terrible - which was to sell my songs.”

Glitter said looking at the images had “destroyed my life”, and said “it has to stop, all this internet pornography of children. “Today it would not happen, I have no interest in looking at that awful porn now,” he said.

Later quizzed about the accusation that he climbed into bed with a schoolgirl and her friend in 1975 and tried to rape her, he said he had no recollection of the little girl and said he could not explain why she might have made up the allegations.

Denying the suggestion from the prosecution that he had admitted to being an “accomplished liar” in his 1999 autobiography, Glitter said: “I am not a liar. I believe that I have told the truth all through this, all through my life actually.

“These allegations are very, very damaging and very hurtful and I can't understand why they should make these allegations at all,” he said.

The trial continues.