Ex-pop star Gary Glitter 'crept into schoolgirl's bed'

Former British Glam-Rocker, Gary Glitter. Photo / Getty Images

Former glam rock singer Gary Glitter crept into a schoolgirl's bed and tried to rape her at the height of his fame, a London court has heard.

The youngster only avoided being raped because she fell into a protective "cocoon" of sheets and blankets, before fleeing when the drunken pop star fell asleep, jurors were told.

John Price QC, opening the case for the prosecution at Southwark Crown Court, said that Glitter - real name Paul Gadd - had tried to force himself on the girl in the mid-1970s.

Gary Glitter pictured in 1977. Photo / Getty Images

"She only managed to prevent him from succeeding by moving away from him in the bed until she had moved so far, they she remembers she fell into the 'envelope' or 'cocoon' formed at the edge of the bed by the fact that the covers and blankets had been tucked beneath the mattress," he said.

The woman, who was aged under 10 at the time and cannot be identified for legal reasons, claims that after the attack Glitter fell asleep.

She then ran into a bathroom to try and clean herself, the court heard.

It is alleged that the day after the attack, Glitter acted as if nothing had happened and gave the girl chocolate.

"The next day Mr Gadd behaved entirely as normal. Nothing was said (to her) about what had happened," Price said.

The hearing impaired singer followed proceedings with the help of lip-reading interpreters.

Glitter, from Marylebone in central London, denies seven counts of indecent assault, one count of attempted rape, and two other sexual offences.

- PAA