Media hunt for Gary Glitter continues after UK arrival
Gary Glitter back in the UK, at last
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Saturday, 23, Aug 2008 11:12
Disgraced former glam rocker Gary Glitter says he wants to fight his Vietnamese conviction in a British court after arriving back in the UK last night.
But a judge at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court has agreed to a notification order, which means Glitter must sign the sex offenders register.
The singer has 21 days to appeal against the order, which will last indefinitely.
Once he has been served papers by police, Glitter has three days to sign the register.
He has informed police of the address at which he will be living, but the address has been kept secret.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Glitter will be monitored by the authorities and that her "top priority" is to ensure children's safety.
She said: "I'm confident that we can protect children here and that is my top priority - the protection of children, not of offenders."
Earlier today David Hawker, solicitor for Glitter, said his client was "pleased to be back in this country" and explained Glitter had avoided making an appearance in court because of concerns over his personal safety.
Mr Hawker insisted the international limbo Glitter found himself in after being deported from Vietnam on Tuesday had not been "wasted" time, explaining "it enabled Mr Gadd and others to put into practice a plan for his proper and safe arrival here".
Glitter's return to Britain was delayed after he allegedly feigned heart trouble to prevent the trip back. He was deported first to Thailand and then Hong Kong before finally being put on a plane to his home country.
"Mr Gadd is not a well man," Mr Hawker continued. "He is unsurprisingly concerned for his safety."
Glitter will move from terminal three to an undisclosed location where, Mr Hawker said, he would not have his safety put at risk.
Mr Hawker said he planned to challenge the Vietnamese conviction in a British court. He served nearly three years for sexual molestation of underage girls before being released earlier this week, a conviction Mr Hawker described as a "charade" and "travesty of justice".
"There has been no opportunity to put forward why he was innocent of those crimes for which he was convicted in Vietnam," Mr Hawker said.
"He did not commit the offences for which he was convicted in Vietnam.
"It was a show trial and he had no opportunity to put his defence forward. Ultimately he wants that to be tested if he can before the courts of this country."
Glitter's health has deteriorated significantly during his spell in prison, Mr Hawker added. His hearing has suffered and he is concerned he has tuberculosis after sharing a cell with an inmate with the disease.