Gary Glitter was charged with eight charges of sex offenses against young girls. The former pop star, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was the first person to be arrested as part of Operation Yewtree

Glitter, who is now 70, is best known for his 1970s hit "Rock and Roll." He was  one of the leading figures in the "glam-rock" music fashion.

Glitter will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 19, under his real name Paul Gadd. He was the first person to be arrested as part of Operation Yewtree about 20 months ago. Glitter was first questioned about the sex charges in October 2012 after he was arrested at his home in Marylebone, central London. He was later bailed pending further enquiries.

The Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement saying the first victim, who was 12 or 13 years old at the time, claimed that Glitter had sex with her, indecently assaulted her and drugged her for sex in 1977.

The second girl, who was 13 or 14 at the time, claims that Glitter indecently assaulted her between late 1979 and the end of 1980.

Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London, said two other women made five other sex abuse claims which were dropped because there was 'insufficient evidence'.  

In announcing the decision Baljit Ubhey said "We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to Paul Gadd, also known as Gary Glitter. He was arrested on 28 October 2012 over allegations of sexual offences and the police have been providing material to the CPS since July 2013, with the most recent material submitted in March 2014.

"Having completed our review, we have concluded, in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors, that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Gadd to be charged with eight offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956. These relate to two female complainants aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the alleged offending between 1977 and 1980."

Glitter was the first suspect who was arrested by Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree in 2012. Operation Yewtree was set up after Jimmy Savile was exposed as a prolific paedophile. Other suspects in the Yewtree  probe are currently on bail, including BBC DJ Paul Gambaccini. Former Radio 1 DJ Chris Denning was charged with 41 offences last month. The charges included 34 counts of indecent assault. The allegations dated from between 1967 and 1985.

Comedian Jimmy Tarbuck spent nearly a year on bail before being told he would not face charge after he was arrested. The comic Jim Davidson was also part of the investigation but also faces no further action.

Mike Osman, a DJ, and Wilfred De'Ath and Ted Beston, former producers at BBC, were also arrested and later told they would not be charged. Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis was cleared of charges of 12 sex attacks by a jury but still faces three charges.

Glitter will appear at Westminster magistrates' court on June 19.