Glitter: "I'm innocent"

Gary Glitter will insist he's innocent of all child abuse charges against him at his trial in Vietnam next month, his lawyer has revealed.

It has now been confirmed that the trial of the disgraced glam idol and convicted sex offender, real name Paul Gadd, will take place on March 2.

Because of the sensitive age of the alleged victims - who are believed to be 11 and 12 - members of the public and media are to be banned from the trial.

Glitter's lawyer Le Thanh Kinh said yesterday that his client would be pleading his innocence in court. He explained: "Up until now my client still rejects all the accusations by the provincial Prosecution Institute."

Glitter will apparently tell the court he was helping the girls to speak English. A verdict, which will be open to the public, is expected on March 3.

"The reason we have the verdict announcement open to the public is that it will serve as an example to warn others never to commit the same crime," a court official told Reuters.

Glitter faces between three to seven years in jail if convicted.