Disgraced British rocker barred from HK, now back in Bangkok

DISGRACED glam rocker Gary Glitter returned to Bangkok yesterday after Hong Kong barred him from entering following his release from three years' prison in Vietnam for child sex abuse.

Thai immigration police detained the 64-year-old Briton after his Thai Airways flight landed at Bangkok's international airport, a Reuters witness said. Police were not available for comment.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was booted out of Vietnam on Tuesday at the end of his sentence.

He feigned ear and heart problems in Bangkok to miss a connecting flight to London, apparently fearful of a hostile reception in Britain, police said.

He was allowed to board a Thai Airways flight to Hong Kong late on Wednesday even though Thai immigration police said he would be deported to London "as soon as possible".

Glitter was denied entry into Hong Kong and put back on a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok where he has been declared persona non-grata.

He is blacklisted in Cambodia, where he spent several years in hiding before moving quietly to Vietnam. Reuters