Glitter refuses to board UK flight

10:25am Wednesday 20th August 2008

Shamed rock star Gary Glitter has been left in limbo after refusing to board a flight to the UK following his release from a Vietnamese prison.

The Foreign Office said Glitter declined to board the flight from Thailand to England and remained in transit, reportedly in a VIP area where travellers can rent small bedrooms airside at Bangkok airport.

In bizarre scenes after landing in Bangkok, Glitter refused to board a connecting flight to Heathrow and demanded to fly to Singapore after Thai officials refused to let him through passport control and into the country.

The 64-year-old, real name Paul Gadd, reportedly argued with Thai immigration officers, insisting he was a "free man", while British embassy officials tried to convince him to board the flight home and a British police officer who was supposed to be accompanying him home looked on.

Glitter then complained of fatigue and was taken to the VIP area.

It is not known when or where Glitter intends to travel to next, but it is unlikely he will remain in Thailand for any length of time after being told he would not be allowed out of Bangkok airport unless it was on an international flight.

Glitter left Vietnam and arrived in Bangkok after a 90-minute Thai Airways flight from Ho Chi Minh City.

He was released from prison after serving two years and nine months of a three-year sentence for abusing two girls aged 10 and 11.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The last information we have is that shortly before the flight to the UK departed he declined to board. We were last aware that he remained in transit.

"He decides where he applies to go and the country or authorities there will decide whether they permit him to enter their territory."

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