Gary Glitter: Former pop star loses challenge against sex abuse convictions

Glitter was found guilty of sexually abusing three schoolgirls

The former pop star Gary Glitter has lost a challenge to overturn his convictions for sexually abusing three schoolgirls.

Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was jailed for 16 years in February for abuse relating to three girls aged under 10, 12 and 13 respectively, committed at the height of his fame in the 1970s.

The 71-year-old brought the case to the Court of Appeal, arguing that he did not have a fair trial because of "adverse publicity", as well as a lack of time for his defence to prepare his case.

But three judges at the Court of Appeal in London threw out his application to appeal, ruling that there was nothing "unsafe" about his conviction.

Glitter was the first person to be arrested under Operation Yewtree, the Metropolitan Police's investigation launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

He denied all charges, but was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, one of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, and four counts of indecent assault.

He did not attend court to hear judges dismiss his bid to have his convictions overturned.