Gary Glitter arrived back in Britain today to be told that he must register for life as sex offender, after a judge ignored his lawyer’s claims that Glitter was an innocent victim of a “travesty of justice”.

David Corker, acting for Glitter, told Uxbridge Magistrates’ court that the former glam-rocker’s conviction for molesting girls in Vietnam was “a gross breach of human rights standards”. He said: “It was an unfair trial and a travesty of justice.”

But District Judge David Sullivan said that the relevant law did not allow Glitter to challenge his conviction and ordered him to register his address at a police station within three days. He will also be required to tell police if he travels abroad for more than three days.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Francis Gadd, did not appear in person at the court and remained holed up in Heathrow’s Terminal 3 for his own safety, Mr Corker said. He was due to be transferred by police to an undisclosed location.

Mr Corker said Glitter fears he may have contracted tuberculosis while in jail in Vietnam, has suffered hearing loss and is generally “not a well man”. He confirmed that Glitter will receive treatment in Britain.

The singer flew into to Heathrow airport early this morning, finally ending a farcical four days bouncing between airports in East Asia, after he was deported from Vietnam and refused entry Thailand and Hong Kong.

Surrounded by police officers, Glitter flew business class and was quickly whisked off Thai Airways flight TG910, infuriating his fellow passengers who were held on the plane for more than an hour as Glitter cleared immigration.

“It was an absolute disgrace,” returning passenger Frankie Wicks, from Bedfordshire, told The Times. “He was in business class and we had to wait until they got him off. We’re really cheesed off that we had to wait an hour and a half.” He added: “Why are they giving so much time to a convicted paedophile?”

When passengers were told Glitter was on board, the atmosphere became hostile but not aggressive, Mr Wicks said. “Lots of people were muttering under their breath but after an 11 hour flight the thing I want to be doing as shouting at anyone.”

Evading the pack of reporters, photographers and TV crews who greeted him at the airport, Glitter went to ground at Heathrow while his lawyer made a failed attempt to save him from a lifetime on the sex offenders register.

The judge issued an order under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, obliging Glitter to tell police where he is living and notify them of any address where he stays more than seven days. Glitter has 21 days in which to appeal but Mr Corker would not say whether he would do so.

Glitter must also tell the authorities of any overseas trips lasting more than three days, though there are no automatic powers to prevent from travelling to any country that will have him. Earlier this week the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, announced plans for new laws to curb the rights of child sex offenders to travel.

Outside the court, Mr Corker said Glitter was “pleased to be back because for the first time he can appear before a court of justice”.

He insisted the singer was “innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted”, adding: “Mr Gadd wants, through me, to say to you that he did not commit the offences for which he was convicted in Vietnam. It was a show trial and he had no opportunity to put his defence forward”.

Pressed as to why Glitter had paid of the families of his victims in Vietnam, Mr Corker said he did not have enough information to answer.

Glitter has used his time in airport limbo to “put into practice a plan for his proper and safe arrival” Mr Corker said.

“Mr Gadd is not a well man, he needs medical attention and is also, unsurprisingly, concerned about his safety and these past few days have enabled the Metropolitan Police and I, on his behalf, to put into place a proper procedure for his protection and his well-being.”

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