December 28, 2005 10:00

Gary Glitter paid accusers’ families

His lawyer says the singer made payments for “lighter penalty”

Gary Glitter paid the families of the Vietnamese girls he was accused of sexually abusing $2000 each, his lawyer has said.

The singer was facing child rape allegations, but on December 26 police dropped both rape charges.

It has now emerged that Glitter made payments to the families of both girls two weeks ago for their “co-operation” in the upcoming legal case.

"If we pay the money for the two families, when this case goes to court, maybe Mr Gary will receive a lighter penalty," his lawyer Le Thanh Kinh told the AP news agency. "After receiving the money, they informed the investigation bureau that they don't want to go to court and they want to drop the case."

Police decided not to bring the child rape allegations to court saying they had not produced enough evidence, however Glitter – real name Paul Gadd – is still believed to be facing charges of child molestation.

If found guilty on these charges Glitter, 61, faces 12 years in prison, but not the death penalty which accompanies any child rape conviction.

Glitter, who has lived in the resort of Vung Tau for the last six months, denies he molested the girls.