Judge sentenced Gary Glitter to 16 years in prison.

In October 2012, ITV aired the documentary "The Other Side of Jimmy Savile" in its Exposure strand, which detailed allegations of sexual misconduct by the BBC presenter who had died the previous year. Accounts included an accusation against Glitter who was alleged to have raped a 13- or 14-year-old girl in Savile's BBC dressing room. 

On 28 October, Glitter was arrested and questioned by police in London as part of Operation Yewtree. Glitter was released on police bail until the middle of December, and was subsequently re-bailed until February. 

On 5 June 2014, Glitter was charged with eight counts of sexual offences committed against two girls aged 12–14 between 1977 and 1980.

On 19 January 2015, Glitter appeared at Southwark Crown Court accused of seven counts of indecent assault, one count of attempted rape, and two other sexual offences, against three girls, between 1975 and 1980. He was accused of sexually assaulting two girls aged 12 and 13 after inviting them backstage to his dressing room, and attempting to rape a girl under the age of 10 after having crept into her bed. The trial lasted two and a half weeks.

On 5 February 2015, he was convicted of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one of having sex with a girl under the age of 13. He was acquitted of the three other counts. He was remanded in custody prior to his sentencing at HM Prison Wandsworth.

On 27 February 2015, Judge Alistair McCreath sentenced Glitter to 16 years in prison.

In May 2015, Glitter began an appeal against his convictions. 

On 17 November 2015, Glitter's appeal was denied by the Court of Appeal, which said there was nothing unsafe about the conviction.