Gary Glitter Charged With Child Sex Offences

Gary Glitter is to be charged with eight sexual offences relating to girls aged between 12 and 14 in the UK, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

The former singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was arrested on October 28, 2012, over allegations of sexual offences dating back to 1977.

Gadd is accused of four counts of indecent assault involving the first complainant, who was aged 12 or 13 at the time, between January 31 and May 31, 1977.

He faces one count of "administering a drug or other thing in order to facilitate sexual intercourse" and one of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 between the same dates.

He is also charged with two counts of indecent assault between October 1, 1979, and December 31, 1980, involving the second complainant, who was aged 13 or 14 at the time.

Gadd will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 19.

The 70-year-old became the first person to be arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, the national investigation launched in the wake of abuse claims against Jimmy Savile, when he was held at his London home in 2012.

He was later released on police bail, which was extended in March this year.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Gadd to be charged with eight offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

"These relate to two female complainants aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the alleged offending between 1977 and 1980," Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London, said.

"We have also decided that no further action should be taken in relation to five allegations made by two further complainants as we determined there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction."