Gary Glitter, the disgraced former pop singer whose real name is Paul Gadd, has been declared bankrupt after failing to pay over £500,000 in damages to a woman he abused when she was just 12 years old.
The woman had sued Glitter for his horrific actions that took place between 1975 and 1980, during which he sexually assaulted her and two other schoolgirls. This legal battle came after Glitter was found guilty of multiple charges related to child sexual abuse, leading to a substantial financial penalty that he has been unable to fulfill.
Glitter, who is now 80 years old, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2015 for his crimes, only to be released in 2023. However, his release was short-lived, as he was recalled to prison within six weeks after violating his parole conditions.
This breach further highlighted his ongoing lack of accountability for his actions. The court ruling had ordered Glitter to pay £508,800 in damages to his victim, a sum that includes £381,000 in lost earnings due to the trauma she suffered, as well as £7,800 to cover future therapy and treatment for the emotional and psychological damage caused by the abuse.
The judge who passed the ruling described the woman’s experience of abuse as “of the most serious kind,” acknowledging the lifelong impact it had on her. The court was informed that she had not been able to work for decades, unable to overcome the trauma of repeated rapes and the public humiliation she endured at the hands of Glitter.
This damage to her personal and professional life further underscores the long-term consequences of his actions, which continue to haunt his victim to this day.
Glitter’s bankruptcy was finalized in March 2025 at the County Court in Torquay and Newton Abbot, located in Devon, where he is reportedly serving his sentence in Channings Wood prison. The legal process that led to his bankruptcy came after the woman’s persistent efforts to hold him accountable for his crimes.
Despite this legal setback, Glitter has shown no remorse, refusing to cooperate with the proceedings in any meaningful way. His continued defiance and lack of respect for the process reflect his longstanding pattern of behavior towards his victims.
Richard Scorer, the head of abuse law at Slater and Gordon, the law firm representing the woman, expressed disappointment over Glitter’s actions, emphasizing that his behavior has remained consistent throughout the legal process.
He stated, “Gadd has refused to cooperate with the process and continues to treat his victims with contempt.” Scorer’s remarks highlight the ongoing challenge of seeking justice from individuals like Glitter, who have shown no signs of remorse or recognition of the harm they have caused.
The case is also a reminder of Glitter’s long and troubled history of criminal behavior, which dates back to 1999 when he was first jailed for possessing nearly 4,000 indecent images of children.
In 2002, Glitter was expelled from Cambodia, and in 2006, he was convicted in Vietnam for sexually abusing two young girls, aged 10 and 11. His sentence for these crimes lasted two-and-a-half years. He will serve the remainder of his sentence for the 2016 convictions, which is set to end in February 2031.
In 2023, after serving half of his fixed-term determinate sentence, Glitter was automatically released from HMP The Verne, a low-security prison in Portland, Dorset. However, his release did not mark the end of his criminal behavior.
Just weeks after being freed, Glitter was returned to prison after attempting to access the dark web, where he sought out illegal images of children. This attempt to engage in further criminal activity highlighted that his desire to reoffend remained unchecked.
Glitter’s legal and criminal battles are far from over. His continued attempts to avoid responsibility for his actions, coupled with his history of abusing and exploiting vulnerable victims, ensure that he remains a serious danger to the public.
As he faces further scrutiny, there is hope that the parole board will take his recent actions into account when considering any future parole applications, as they serve as a clear indication that he has never changed and still poses a significant risk to society.
