24 January 2024 , 22:06
972
0
A lawyer for one of paedophile Gary Glitter’s victims says the Parole Board will not hear from her or read his letter detailing the monster’s lack of remorse.
Glitter, 79, is understood to have appeared before a panel on Wednesday as they consider whether to free him. The shamed rocker was returned to jail in February when he was caught trying to surf the Dark Web.
The breach of his bail conditions came 39 days after he was automatically released halfway through a 16-year term for sexually abusing three girls when they were 13 and under.
Richard Scorer, specialist abuse lawyer at Slater & Gordon, said on Wednesday of one Glitter victim, who was bravely prepared to give evidence: “She hasn’t been given any opportunity to read her witness impact statement.
“We tried to write to the Parole Board regarding Glitter’s lack of remorse. We were told that our letter could not be placed before them directly but the information could be included in the Probation Service’s report to the board.
Gary Glitter freed after serving half his jail sentence for sex abuse of 3 girls
Glitter has been in prison since February (WireImage)
Glitter was first jailed in 1999 after child abuse images were found on his laptop (Mirrorpix)“We do not know what information has in fact been provided to the panel hearing regarding the matter today – the process is shrouded in secrecy despite previous promises from the Parole Board to adopt a more open approach.”
An application to have the hearing in public was rejected in October. Mr Scorer said at the time that his client became “very angry and frustrated” that the parole hearing would be held in private.
He added: “Ultimately the basis of any decision will be unclear because nobody will know what evidence the Parole Board has considered.
“We have called for the hearing to be public, which has been refused, and we think this is unacceptable.” Ex-rock star Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was first jailed in 1999 after child abuse images were found on his laptop.
He was then jailed in Vietnam in 2006 for abusing two girls aged 11 and 12. He returned to the UK in 2008 and became the first suspect to be arrested under Operation Yewtree, launched in the wake of the abuse scandal surrounding Jimmy Savile.
The Parole Board declined to comment.