British pop star Gary Glitter is a fragile shadow of his former self – and insiders say he could die in prison.
Once a chart topper during the glamor scene of the 1970s, Glitter gained notoriety for his years-long trail of sex crimes involving young girls, images of child abuse and convictions in many countries – turning the image into one of Britain’s most reviled offenders.
The 81-year-old is “on his last legs,” unable to move, nearly deaf and increasingly isolated in a prison in southwest England, according to The Sun.
Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, spends up to 23 hours a day alone in his cell in a room reserved for vulnerable prisoners, the outlet reported.
“He often uses a wheelchair and staff have been told about his hearing loss and reduced mobility,” said one insider. “Most people will have a hard time recognizing him now.”
Some inmates are said to believe that the former singer will never leave prison alive.
The problems of a fallen star go beyond poor health. He is also under increasing pressure from an ongoing legal battle to seize his assets after he was declared bankrupt. A recent hearing in Bristol County Court added to his stress, sources said.
Despite her condition, Glitter has received no sympathy in prison.
Some inmates reportedly view him as arrogant, and tensions remain high – another reason why he remains isolated from the general public.
The disgraced player is serving a 16-year sentence for abusing three girls. He was paroled in 2023 but was sent back to prison after authorities found disturbing behavior involving children.
Last year, parole officials denied Glitter’s release, ruling that he was dangerous because of his “uncontrollable interest” in teenage girls.
His sentence will continue until 2031, and another review is not expected until at least next year.
Inside the prison, Glitter lives in relatively comfortable conditions compared to other inmates – receiving food from her cell and a small weekly allowance for snacks and personal items. But sources say his declining health and isolation are taking a toll on him.
“If he doesn’t get parole soon, many officials and prisoners think he will see out his days in prison,” said an insider.
Glitter’s rap sheet goes back decades. He was first jailed in 1999 after police found thousands of child abuse images on his computer, working for four months before leaving the country as the heat was on.
The sick “Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2)” hopped overseas. He was deported from Cambodia amid allegations of sex crimes before being convicted in Vietnam in 2006 of abusing two young girls, aged just 10 and 11, which landed him in prison again.
He later returned to the UK, where he was spectacularly arrested in his London flat in 2012 as part of Operation Yewtree – an investigation that eventually helped bring him down for good.
