Gary Glitter Returns to Britain Amid Sex Offender Registration Order
Paul Francis Gadd, better known by his stage name Gary Glitter, arrived back in the United Kingdom on 22 August 2008, following a tumultuous journey from Vietnam where he had served a prison term for child abuse. The 64-year-old former glam rock star, convicted as a paedophile in multiple jurisdictions, touched down at Heathrow Airport just after 7am, wearing a light blue baseball cap and white T-shirt. He was immediately met by eight uniformed police officers upon disembarking the plane.
Gadd's return was precipitated by his release from a Vietnamese jail on Tuesday, 19 August 2008, after serving two years and nine months of a three-year sentence for obscene acts with children. The conviction stemmed from allegations by two Vietnamese girls involving rape, though he was charged with lesser offences that carried a potential death penalty if escalated. Gadd pleaded not guilty but was found guilty in March 2006. His solicitor, David Corker, later described the Vietnamese trial as a 'travesty of justice' and 'obtained in appalling circumstances,' claiming it was a 'show trial.' Gadd himself maintained his innocence regarding the Vietnamese offences, promising cooperation with UK authorities upon return.
Prior to his Vietnamese imprisonment, Gadd had a history of sexual offences in the UK. In 1999, he was convicted of downloading child pornography after thousands of indecent images were discovered on his laptop by a computer repair shop. For this, he served two months of a four-month custodial sentence and was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years. Following his release, Gadd relocated abroad, living in Spain, Cuba, and south-east Asia, including Cambodia from where he was expelled due to further sex crime allegations before settling in Vung Tau, Vietnam.
En route to Britain, Gadd faced international travel complications. After his release, he flew to Thailand but refused to board a connecting flight from Bangkok to Heathrow, citing illness—possibly tuberculosis contracted during his imprisonment. Thai authorities barred him from entry and threatened detention, leading to over 20 hours in Bangkok's transit lounge. He then travelled to Hong Kong on 20 August 2008, only to be denied entry and returned to Thailand. Finally, on 21 August 2008, Thai police general Phongdej Chaiprawat confirmed Gadd had boarded a flight to the UK.
In a brief hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on 22 August 2008—which Gadd did not attend due to safety and health concerns—the Metropolitan Police, represented by solicitor Rajeev Shetty, successfully argued for an indefinite notification order. District Judge David Simpson ordered Gadd to sign the sex offenders register for life, equivalent to what would apply had his Vietnamese conviction occurred in the UK. Corker noted Gadd's hearing difficulties and potential TB, emphasising his client's intent to comply. As a result, Gadd must notify authorities of his UK residence, submit to unannounced police visits, and may face restrictions on contact with children or internet use.
The case drew attention to broader child protection issues. NSPCC policy adviser Zoe Hilton commented: 'This case is important because it highlights how easy it is for UK offenders to move around freely when overseas.' In response to Gadd's conviction, then-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced tighter controls on the overseas movement of paedophiles. Gadd, who sold millions of records in the 1970s with hits like 'I'm The Leader of the Gang,' now faces ongoing monitoring in Britain.
Source: The Guardian, 22 August 2008.