Calls grow for paedophile Gary Glitter to stay locked up because ‘he is a danger to children’

Disgraced pop star Gary Glitter should remain behind bars as ‘he is a danger to children’, one of his victim’s lawyer has said – as it emerges he could be freed again when a parole board holds a review.

The convicted paedophile, 78, was recalled to prison on Monday night after being caught on camera browsing the internet on a smartphone in an alleged bid to access the dark web.

His case will now be referred to Parole Board, which will hold a ‘recall review’ within six to eight weeks and could decide to release him. If unsuccessful, Glitter can request an oral parole hearing three months later to determine whether he is fit for release.

But Richard Scorer, a lawyer for one of his victims, has said freeing Glitter again would be ‘madness’.

He told The Mirror: ‘Anyone with any common sense can see that he will never change and that he is a danger to children. 

Disgraced singer Gary Glitter was recalled on Monday night after being caught on camera browsing the internet on a smartphone in an alleged bid to access the dark web 

Glitter was secretly filmed inside the hostel using a smartphone and appearing to discuss using the Dark Web

‘He should not be released again. My client lives in dread at the prospect of his release. It’s essential the parole board confirms without delay he will serve the rest of his sentence in prison. Letting him out again would be madness.’

The former head of Scotland Yard’s Paedophile Unit, Mike Hames, also said Glitter would always represent a danger to children.

Mr Hames told Times Radio Glitter ‘is so dangerous and fixated on his offending behaviour that he’ll never stop’, adding: ‘He’s… always going to be a danger to children. 

‘No doubt he’ll serve the next eight years… he’ll probably die in prison.’

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The 78-year-old was freed in February after serving half of a 16-year term imposed in 2015 for sexually abusing three girls aged 13 or under during his glam rock career in the 1970s and 80s. 

In theory, Glitter could now be locked up for the rest of that sentence, but every two years his case would be reviewed.

At the end of the eight-year licence period, he would be released from prison automatically.

The disgraced pop star was jailed in 2015 for sexually assaulting three young girls in the 1970s. He was released on licence last month after serving half of his 16-year sentence 

Glitter was at the height of his fame when he preyed on his victims, who thought no-one would believe their claims because of his celebrity status. 

The prolific sex offender was previously jailed for four months in 1999 over a vile cache of 4,000 child abuse images found on his computer. 

Glitter then went abroad and was jailed again in 2006 for sexually abusing two girls in Vietnam. 

The sex offender was freed last month after serving half a 16-year term imposed in 2015 for sexually abusing girls aged under 13 during his pop heyday in the 1970s. 

But following his latest release, he was seen browsing on a smartphone in a bail hostel, breaking the licence conditions of his release. 

Details of the breach were not given, but it was reported that Glitter was caught trying to access the dark web. 

He was filmed staring at the screen saying he was trying to find ‘the Onion’, a term for the infamous online realm which is used by paedophiles and other criminals as it is hard to monitor or trace users.

His phone is now being examined for Dark Web content by police after the footage emerged.