Gary Glitter Ordered to Pay £508,000 in Compensation for Sexual Abuse
Gary Glitter Ordered to Pay £508,000 to Victim of Sexual Abuse
Convicted sex offender Gary Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, has been ordered to pay at least £508,000 to a woman he abused when she was 12 years old. This decision comes from a High Court ruling where the judge described the abuse as "of the most serious kind."
Background of the Case
The claimant brought her case forward after Gadd's 2015 conviction for abusing her and two others between 1975 and 1980. Gadd, now 80, was sentenced to 16 years in prison but was released in February last year after serving half of his sentence. He was subsequently returned to prison six weeks later for breaching his licence conditions by allegedly viewing downloaded images of children.
Court Ruling and Damages
In a 13-page ruling released on Tuesday, High Court judge Mrs Justice Tipples determined the woman was entitled to £508,800 in damages, with a further decision pending on adding interest to the sum. Gadd may also be required to cover the victim's legal costs.
"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 a very significant adverse impact on the rest of her life," stated Mrs Justice Tipples.
The awarded sum includes £381,000 for lost earnings and £7,800 for future therapy and treatment. The court heard that the abuse had rendered the woman unable to work for decades.
Impact of the Abuse
The claimant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has faced severe repercussions due to Gadd's actions. Her barrister, Jonathan Metzer, noted that the abuse had a "dramatic and terrible impact" on her education, work, and personal relationships. Her behavior deteriorated rapidly following the assaults, causing her to drop out of school at age 13.
Mrs Justice Tipples detailed the lifelong mental scarring experienced by the victim, including severe sleep disturbances, nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, and depression. The abuse led to such a deep psychological impact that the victim changed her identity to escape memories associated with Gadd.
"The claimant has no self-confidence and, at times, she has felt suicidal and has taken overdoses," the judge said. "She is plagued by thoughts of shame and self-blame, which despite an understanding of the nature of the abuse, she finds she cannot shake off."
Gadd's Lack of Response
Gadd failed to acknowledge the compensation claim, resulting in a default judgment against him. He also did not respond to an offer to address the court via a prison video link regarding the compensation amount.
Mrs Justice Tipples awarded nearly £8,000 for the victim's psychological therapy and treatment and confirmed that £381,000 of the damages were for the victim's lost earnings. "I am quite satisfied that the claimant has been unable to obtain any meaningful employment throughout her life as a result of the consequences of the serious sexual abuse she suffered by the defendant at such a young age. Her education was ruined, and she has suffered severe psychiatric injury for the rest of her life," the judge concluded.
