Gary Glitter's appeal against his three year jail term for child sex abuse has failed. As previously reported, the former glam rocker, real name Paul Gadd, was originally convicted of molesting two girls, aged eleven and twelve, back in March in the Vung Tau district of Vietnam, but appeared yesterday at the People's Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City for the new hearing.
Chief judge Truong Vinh Thuy said in court: "We did not see enough evidence to reduce the penalty for the defendant. The decision was made based on evidence, documents and testimony of the victims. The behaviour of the defendant is dangerous for society, especially towards children. He needs to be punished." Glitter, who, as previously reported, blames the British media for his conviction, suggesting that a 'conspiracy' led to his present imprisonment, declared as he was leaving the courtroom: "It's not a fair trial."
Philippa Lei, of children's charity World Vision, who have called for action to be taken to curb sex tourism, welcomed the new decision. She told BBC News 24: "We're delighted at the verdict, because it sends a very strong message that these sorts of crimes against children will not be tolerated. And the fact of the matter is that Glitter isn't the only person to go overseas and commit these sorts of crimes. We know that there are many British nationals who do that, and hopefully this verdict will tell them that they'll not get away with it in the future."