Disgraced singer Gary Glitter refused jail release

Convicted sex offender Gary Glitter will remain behind bars after losing a Parole Board bid.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed for 16 years in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980.

The 79-year-old was automatically released in February last year but was put back behind bars six weeks later after breaching his licence conditions.

A panel said Gadd continued to show a "lack of victim empathy".

The summary of the Parole Board panel's decision said: "It found on the evidence that at the time of the offending, and while he was on licence, Mr Gadd had a sexual interest in underage girls."

It said Gadd had not taken part in any programmes in prison to address his offending and continues to deny having a sexual interest in children.

The decision published by the Parole Board on Wednesday continued: "After considering the circumstances of his offending, the lack of progress made while in custody and on licence, and the other evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

"Rather, the panel considered that Mr Gadd was appropriately located in custody where outstanding levels of risk could be addressed."

The hearing last month took place in secret after a request for proceedings to be heard in public was rejected.

Lawyer Richard Scorer, who represents one of Gadd's victims, told the Press Association news agency: "This is the right decision and in our view the only decision that the parole board could have made.

"Everything we know about Gadd/Glitter indicates that he remains a risk to children and has never shown any remorse."

Gadd was first jailed in the late 1990s for possessing thousands of child abuse images.

After being freed for the first time, he moved abroad but was expelled from Cambodia in 2002 amid reports of sex crime allegations.

In March 2006, he was convicted of abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Vietnam and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Gadd's crimes stretching back to the 1970s were uncovered after Operation Yewtree was launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

The investigation led to inquiries over historic sex offences committed by other celebrities, including former entertainer Rolf Harris and celebrity agent Max Clifford.

During the height of his fame, Gadd had three UK number ones including I'm the Leader of the Gang (I am!).