Glitter: I'm no paedophile
Glitter: I'm no paedophile
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Tuesday, 02, May 2006 05:41
Gary Glitter has today insisted he is not guilty of sexually abusing two young girls and has vowed to return to the UK when he is released from jail.
The disgraced former pop star, real name Paul Francis Gadd, 61, is currently serving a three-year prison sentence in Vietnam after he was convicted of molesting two girls, aged 11 and 12, earlier this year, a charge he has always denied.
And today, speaking from his cell, Glitter told the BBC that he had not to his knowledge slept with anyone under the age of legal consent.
"It was only recently that I found out that underage is 18 in the country, OK, but I don't believe that I slept with anyone under 18," he said. "I am not a paedophile."
Glitter also attempted to explain how he was found in bed with one of the two girls by suggesting he was acting in a parental manner towards the youngster.
"I'm a father and from time to time these things happen," he added. "Your daughter will come into your bed in the night because she's scared. This happened in this case over here."
When asked whether he intends to return to the UK, he added that is a distinct possibility although he said he has more immediate problems to resolve.
"The only thing I think about is trying to win the appeal and trying to put some honour and dignity back to my family, my friends and the fans who've supported me all this time," he added.
His appeal is due to be heard in Ho Chi Minh City on May 19th.
He could face deportation when released from Vietnam and is likely to face further action if he returns to the UK, particularly as he has a history of offences dating back to 1999.
In November 1999, he was sentenced to four months in prison for 54 offences of downloading pornography and was placed on the sex offenders' register.