Convicted sex offender Gary Glitter has been ordered by a High Court judge to pay at least £508,000 in damages to a woman he abused when she was 12 years old. The disgraced pop star, whose real name is Paul Gadd, subjected the claimant to “sexual abuse of the most serious kind,” according to Mrs. Justice Tipples.
The victim brought her claim following Gadd’s 2015 conviction for abusing her and two other minors between 1975 and 1980. Gadd, now 80, was sentenced to 16 years in prison and was released in February last year after serving half his sentence. However, he was returned to prison six weeks later for breaching his licence conditions by allegedly viewing downloaded images of children.
In her 13-page ruling, Mrs. Justice Tipples stated that the woman is entitled to £508,800 in damages, with further consideration to be given to adding interest and covering her legal costs. The damages include £381,000 for lost earnings and £7,800 for future therapy and treatment.
“There is no doubt that the claimant was subject to sexual abuse of the most serious kind by the defendant when she was only 12 years old and that has had very significant adverse impact on the rest of her life,” said Mrs. Justice Tipples.
The court heard that the abuse had a devastating effect on the victim, impacting her education, work, and personal relationships. Her barrister, Jonathan Metzer, detailed how her experiences led to her dropping out of school at 13 and struggling with severe psychological issues, including nightmares, panic attacks, and depression.
The judge noted that Gadd did not respond to the compensation claim or participate in the court proceedings, resulting in a default judgment against him. The abuse began after Gadd plied the victim and her mother with champagne backstage at a concert and then separated the 12-year-old from her mother.
Mrs. Justice Tipples highlighted the lifelong mental scarring the victim has endured, stating, “The claimant has great difficulty sleeping, suffered nightmares, intrusive flashbacks and memories, together with panic attacks and depression.”
In addition to the damages for lost earnings and therapy, the judge awarded almost £8,000 for complex psychological treatment, underscoring the severe and lasting impact of Gadd’s abuse on the victim’s life.