Update: Gary Glitter Goes into Hiding

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Police began a risk assessment yesterday after Gary Glitter claimed that he feared being attacked. Officers stressed yesterday that the former glam rocker and convicted paedophile, released last week after nearly three years in a Vietnamese jail for sexual assaults on young girls, would receive no special treatment.

A police spokesman said: "He is not being treated any differently to any other person in these circumstances." The response follows claims that protecting Glitter would be hugely expensive; estimates have varied wildly from £50,000 to £250,000 for a round-the-clock defence from vigilante attacks. He has not so far been put up in a police safe house, a move which is reserved for cases where the danger is proven.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, went into hiding yesterday after a media scrum at Heathrow on his return to Britain. Only a handful of officers are thought to have been told of his location, although the 64-year-old is thought to have headed to Cornwall.

The 1970s pop star appeared desperate to keep a low profile yesterday. But last night his legal team suggested that his disappearance will not last for long, and months of court action could be in the pipeline. Glitter has recruited David Corker – the lawyer who represented Michael Barrymore – to help him prevent his name being added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Glitter spent seven years on the register after being convicted of storing child pornography on his computer in 1999. He was given a four-month jail sentence.

Chinese authorities informed the UK Foreign Office they had barred Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, 64, after his arrival at 11pm local time (1600 BST).

Earlier he was deported from Vietnam after spending almost three years in jail for sexually abusing two girls.

He flew to Hong Kong from Bangkok after refusing to catch a flight to the UK.

He had boarded a Thai Airways flight to Chinese territory Hong Kong after Thai authorities refused him entry and threatened to deport him to Britain.

Thai Airways confirmed Glitter left Bangkok on flight number TG 602, landing in Hong Kong at 11pm local time (1600 BST).

English rock and pop singer turned paedophile Gary Glitter released from prison in Vietnam on August 19, has revealed to a friend that he plans to “vanish completely” during his stopover flight to London.

The friend said that Glitter had boasted on August 18 about how he was “untouchable” and had “money to burn”.

“As there are no direct flights to London, he’s boasted he may just disappear into Asia and start his life afresh,” the Sun quoted his pal as saying.

The former star is due to be driven under police escort to Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

He is expected to have a ticket to London - but there are no direct flights to the UK, which allows him the option of buying another ticket when he changes planes.

His lawyer said: "He has served his sentence and the authorities in Vietnam will deport him. He does not have any sentence to serve in London. If he wants to stop wherever he wants to he can do that.

"If he wants to he can change flights."

He added: "The only problem is the countries he wants to go to, because he has to get a visa."

Sex offenders register

However, the lawyer said his client told him he wanted to return to the UK, had a ticket to London and was eagerly anticipating his release.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it was "a matter for Mr Gadd and the Vietnamese authorities" where Glitter goes after he is deported.