Vietnamese girls 'had sex with Gary Glitter'

Two girls, one aged 12, told authorities they had sex with former rock star Gary Glitter at his home in Vietnam, police said today.

Glitter, 61, was detained by immigration officials on Saturday at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City while trying to board a flight for Bangkok. He was later turned over to provincial police in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau, police and immigration officials said.

Police had been searching for the former rocker, whose real name is Paul Gadd, since he fled his rented home in Vung Tau on November 12 amid allegations that he committed indecent acts with a minor.

Glitter, who rose to fame with a glam rock act in the 1970s, is perhaps best known for Rock and Roll (Part 2), which is still frequently played at sporting events.

He has not been charged with any crime but remains in custody at a jail outside the coastal city, police said. Today, Vung Tau police said they were continuing to investigate the case and will be questioning him further.

A British consulate official said Glitter was given access to consular officials on Sunday and was seeking a lawyer.

In Vung Tau, a police officer said the two girls, aged 12 and 18, claimed in interviews with police that they had gone to Glitter’s home and had sex with him there. There were conflicting reports that the second girl had not yet turned 18.

Under Vietnamese law, sexual contact with a minor carries varying degrees of penalties, depending on the charge.

“Obscene acts with a child” can get up to 12 years in prison while child rape carries the maximum penalty of death before a firing squad.