Gary Glitter Denies Child Sex Abuse Charges as Trial Begins

British former pop star Gary Glitter (Paul Gadd) faces Southwark Crown Court
over allegations of sexually abusing underage fans in the 1970s and 80s.

Former British pop-star Gary Glitter has faced court charged with the sexual abuse of three underage female fans in the 1970s and 1980s.

The 70-year-old musician, whose real name is Paul Gadd, faces 10 counts including attempted rape, indecent assault and unlawful intercourse.

The singer denies all charges in the current case.

Prosecutor John Price described to the court how a drunken Gadd had tried to force himself on a girl, who was aged under 10 at the time, in the mid-1970s.

The girl "did not, in fact, have the capacity to consent to such an act," Mr Price said.

The alleged victim only came forward 20 years after the incident when she saw Gadd had admitted in 1999 to child pornography charges.

Illicit images were allegedly found on a laptop he had put in for repair.

Southwark Crown Court, southeast London

He is also accused of molesting two young fans that he first met in his dressing room after a concert that their mothers had taken them to in 1977.

One of the girls was 12 years old at the time.

The prosecution alleges that Gadd had sex with one of the two on another occasion when she was 13 years old and after he had plied her with champagne.

In 2012, Gadd was the first to be arrested in relation to the child sex probe surrounding late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, which also saw the investigation and conviction of entertainer Rolf Harris.

Gadd shot to fame in the 1970s and had over 20 hit singles including I'm the Leader of the Gang (I am), I Love You Love Me Love and Always Yours.