Pop star Gary Glitter (55) was last night staying at a secret location after his first public appearance within hours of his release from a jail sentence for possessing child pornography. He had earlier made a brief appearance before speeding away in a Mercedes with blacked out windows.
Glitter was smuggled out of prison yesterday morning, having served two months of a four-month sentence after admitting 54 charges of possessing child pornography downloaded from the Internet.
His solicitor later announced he would appear briefly for a photo-call at Regent's Park, close to his central London home.
Posing for pictures wearing his trademark dark wig and black jacket, Glitter appeared on the verge of tears as he said: "I deeply regret doing what I was sent to prison for.
"I have served my time. I want to put it all behind me and live my life."
He left immediately afterwards without answering questions amid speculation that he planned to leave Britain and start a new life in Cuba with his Cuban girlfriend, Ms Yudenia Sosa Martinez (26).
He is free to travel abroad despite the judge at his trial ordering that he should be put on the sex offenders' register for seven years.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said yesterday the maximum jail term of six months for possessing child pornography was too short.
It said: "Gary Glitter might regret his actions but he should be aware that the young victims of child porn are facing a life sentence of misery through the abuse they have suffered.
"This certainly was not a victimless crime. Children as young as five are subjected to serious sexual assaults, including rape, to produce the foul material he wanted to look at."