Convicted sex offender Gary Glitter may remain in prison without another Parole Board hearing, following a damning assessment of his lack of remorse and refusal to engage in rehabilitation.
Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was automatically released halfway through his 16-year sentence in February 2023 but was swiftly recalled to prison just six weeks later for allegedly accessing indecent images of children. Now aged 80, the disgraced pop star is undergoing a preliminary assessment to determine his suitability for potential release — though officials say there is no guarantee he will ever face another parole hearing.
A Parole Board member is currently reviewing his file, including reports from prison and probation staff, to assess whether his case should be considered based on written evidence or if it requires a full hearing. However, the panel also has the authority to rule that he is not fit for release, which would delay any new parole consideration by at least two years.
Glitter was jailed in 2015 for a string of horrific child sex offences. His 16-year sentence is due to expire in February 2031.
The former glam rocker was recently declared bankrupt after refusing to pay £508,000 in compensation awarded by the High Court to a woman he raped when she was 12 years old. Her lawyers successfully filed an enforcement action, and a trustee may now seize assets including a £2 million London penthouse to cover the damages.
Despite being behind bars, Glitter is believed to still earn royalties from music he released decades ago. Reports suggest he made up to £1 million from Oasis’s 1995 track Hello, which samples his hit Hello, Hello, I’m Back Again.
His continued earnings and refusal to cooperate with rehabilitation programmes, including sex offender treatment courses, have been cited as evidence of his lack of remorse. A previous parole application in 2024 was rejected due to concerns about public safety.
Lawyer Richard Scorer, representing victims, said:
“Gadd’s refusal to engage with the process proves his utter lack of remorse — something we will remind the Parole Board about if he makes another application for early release.”
At least two more women are now reported to be pursuing legal action against Glitter, who has become one of the most reviled figures in British criminal history.
The Parole Board’s latest decision could effectively see the disgraced singer spend the remainder of his sentence behind bars — a move welcomed by many of his victims and campaigners.
