Gary Glitter held in Savile investigation
Former pop star long linked to child sex accusations is the first man arrested in the scandal over alleged abuses by late BBC presenter
One-time British pop star Gary Glitter was arrested yesterday as part of an investigation into allegations of child sex abuse by the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, the corporation said.
It was the first arrest to be reported in a scandal that has already damaged the reputation of the publicly funded BBC and the legacy of Savile, a former DJ who was one of the broadcaster's top show hosts and a dedicated charity fundraiser.
The head of the BBC's governing body said yesterday that the broadcaster's reputation was on the line, and promised to get to the bottom of the scandal.
A police statement said a man in his 60s had been picked up on suspicion of sexual offences in the investigation into "Savile and others". The statement did not name the man and a spokesman declined further comment.
The BBC and Sky News identified the man picked up from his London home as Glitter, 68, who was popular as a glam-rock singer in the 1970s. Footage on both broadcasters showed Glitter, who was not handcuffed, leaving an apartment in central London and being driven away.
Glitter, born Paul Gadd, shot to fame in the 1970s with the hit . He has long been dogged by child-sex accusations.
Allegations that Savile sexually abused young girls for decades first emerged in an exposé on the British TV channel ITV. Since then, police say some 300 victims had come forward.
