Gary Glitter faces 50 child porn charges

THE SINGER Gary Glitter was yesterday charged with 50 offences relating to child pornography. Glitter, 53, was charged under his real name, Paul Francis Gadd, after six hours of questioning at Staple Hill police station, Bristol, and bailed to appear at Northavon magistrates court on 18 May.

He is charged with 50 counts of making indecent pseudo-photographs of children under the age of 16 years, contrary to section one of the Child Protection Act 1978. The charge relates to the downloading of child pornography from the Internet, and carries a maximum penalty of three years' jail.

He is also charged with 50 alternative counts of possessing indecent photographs of children under the age of 16.

Glitter became known as the Comeback King, famous for such hits as: "Hello, Hello I'm Back Again" and "I'm the Leader of the gang (I am)."

His solicitor, Henri Brandman, yesterday issued a statement denying the charges. "Gary will be vigorously contesting these allegations. Since he has now been charged, neither he nor I will be making any further comment. He is in good spirits and I anticipate he will be continuing with his career."

Police began investigating Glitter in November after they were alerted by staff at a Bristol branch of PC World where the singer had taken his computer to be repaired.

Staff said indecent images of children had been downloaded from the Internet and stored on the machine. Glitter denied the allegations.

He went to the police station voluntarily yesterday after flying back into the country at the weekend. He had been living in Cuba since the end of his Christmas tour with his 25-year-old girlfriend, Yudenia Sosa Martinez.