Victim of Gary Glitter seeking six-figure sum in damages
ONE of Gary Glitter’s victims is seeking around half-a-million pounds from the disgraced musician in damages, the High Court has heard.
The woman is suing Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, following his 2015 conviction for abusing her and two other young people between 1975 and 1980.
She has previously secured a “default judgment” in her claim – a ruling in her favour over Glitter’s liability, with a judge now due to make a ruling on the level of damages the woman can receive.
At a hearing on Wednesday, the court heard the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been unable to work for several decades as a result of the abuse.
The court heard that part of her damages bid includes a claim for £20,000 per year for 40 years, covering the time she has been unable to work, although any award is likely to be reduced.
Jonathan Metzer, for the woman, said Glitter’s abuse had a “dramatic and terrible impact” on her education, work and personal relationships.
He told the High Court in London: “One can only begin to imagine the profound pain felt by someone who has experienced such shocking abuse, then suffered from feelings of shame and worthlessness.”
The barrister said his client was “plagued by thoughts of self-blame”, adding that her mother was a fan of Glitter’s music. Mr Metzer added: “You may have concluded that his status as a rock star created a substantial imbalance of power that he exploited. There was an abuse of trust – her mother was beguiled by the defendant.”
Glitter did not attend Wednesday’s hearing, nor was he represented by a lawyer, with the court told he had not so far engaged with the civil case.
Mrs Justice Tipples said she would give her decision in early May.
The judge said: “This is a large amount of money that you are asking for.
“The principle is not the issue, the issue is assessing it.”
Richard Scorer, head of abuse law at Slater and Gordon, who represents Glitter’s victim, said:
“Yet again Gadd showed contempt to his victims today by failing to turn up at court and answer for the appalling harm he caused.
“The evidence of that harm today speaks for itself and we hope the judge will make an award to reflect this.
“Gadd remains a man completely with[out] any human decency or remorse.” .”
Glitter was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls. His sentence expires in February 2031.
He was released in February last year after serving half of his sentence but after breaking his parole he was returned to prison.