PREDATOR BACK ON THE STREETS
»»Glitter victim’s pain as star freed from jail »»Paedo’shostelnear to six primary schools
A TRAUMATISED victim of paedophile Gary Glitter says the singer’s release from jail yesterday is “not the justice” she was promised.
Glitter, 78, real name Paul Gadd, was freed automatically as he has served half his 16-year sentence for sex crimes against girls.
He walked out of HMP The Verne in Dorset around 2am before being whisked away by police. He was taken to a hostel where he is likely to spend several weeks.
The building in the south of England is in a family-friendly area and is within one mile of six primary schools.
A number of children walked past the gated property yesterday.
Glitter was jailed in 2015 for abusing three schoolgirls in the 1970s and 1980s.
Richard Scorer, a lawyer who represents one of those victims, said: “I’ve spoken to my client, and like every victim of serious sexual assault facing early release of her abuser, [it] is an incredibly difficult day for her.
“The abuse, including repeated rapes which our client suffered from the age of 12, have left her with a life sentence.” Mr Scorer, of legal firm Slater and Gordon, added: “[Glitter] has never admitted his offences, has never apologised and has never shown any remorse.
“It is therefore particularly traumatic to read of him being released halfway through his sentence, albeit on licence.
“Our client feels this was not the justice she was promised and the early release devalues her suffering.”
The woman represented by Mr Scorer is making a civil damages claim against glam rock star Glitter who had a string of top 10 hits in the 1970s.
A UK Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Sex offenders like Paul Gadd are closely monitored by the police and Probation Service and face some of the strictest licence conditions.
“If the offender breaches these conditions, they can go back behind bars.
“We have already introduced tougher sentences for the worst offenders and ended the automatic halfway release for serious crimes.”
Glitter was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, one of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and four counts of indecent assault.
He attacked a girl of 12 and one of 13 after inviting them to his dressing room and isolating them from their mums.
His third victim was aged under 10 when Glitter crept into her bed and tried to rape her in 1975.
Glitter was jailed for four months in 1999 for possessing 4,000 child abuse images. Then in Vietnam in 2006 he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, and spent twoand-a-half years in prison there.
It is particularly traumatic to read of him being released halfway through his sentence RICHARD SCORER ON THE TORMENT FELT BY GLITTER’S VICTIM