Fall from Grace: Glitter’s Dark Past Revealed in ITV Documentary

Paul Gadd, best known by his stage name Gary Glitter, soared to fame as an icon of British 70s glam rock, captivating audiences with hit singles like ‘Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2)’ and ‘Do You Wanna Touch Me‘.

However, a dark shadow hung over Glitter as it was later uncovered that he had a double life involving despicable crimes. In the 90s, he faced the harrowing truth when arrested and imprisoned for downloading thousands of child pornography images and videos, revealing a sinister side to the flamboyant popstar.

The sordid details of Glitter’s crimes are now being brought to light in a new ITV documentary titled ‘Glitter: The Popstar Paedophile’, slated to air on April 23rd. The show delves into how his on-stage charisma camouflaged years of predatory behavior off-stage, painting a disturbing picture of his true self.

An investigation into Glitter’s heinous acts began when he sought computer repairs at a PC World store in Bristol, leading to the discovery of incriminating images on his personal device. In 1999, he confessed to 54 charges of making indecent photographs of children under 16, yet was sentenced to a mere four months in prison, sparking outrage.

Following his brief stint behind bars, Glitter fled the UK and relocated to south-east Asia, where he continued his reign of terror. Reports emerged from Cambodia in 2002 detailing sex-crime allegations, followed by his conviction in 2006 in Vietnam for the sexual abuse of two young girls aged 10 and 11 in Vung Tau.

The BBC conducted an investigation in 2015 that included an interview with one of Glitter’s victims, recounting the horrifying ordeal of being assaulted by the popstar in his home. Subsequently, under Operation Yewtree, the Met police arrested Glitter in connection with historical sexual abuse allegations against media personalities, a precursor to his 2015 conviction for attempted rape and child sexual abuse.

In a pivotal moment during his trial, it was revealed that Glitter had targeted schoolgirls, luring them into his dressing room post-performance and committing heinous acts. Judge Alistair McCreath handed down a harsh 16-year prison sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Glitter’s depraved behavior towards minors.

Despite serving just half of his sentence, Glitter was released from HM Prison The Verne in Dorset in 2023, only to be swiftly recalled to prison after allegedly downloading illicit images of children on a smartphone, demonstrating a continued sexual interest in underage girls.

Currently detained at HMP Albany on the Isle of Wight, the fall from grace of Paul Gadd, once adored as Gary Glitter, serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind the glamour of fame.

‘Glitter: The Popstar Paedophile’ aims to shed light on the haunting legacy of this fallen star, urging society to confront the uncomfortable truths of his past actions.