Lastminute slammed over Gary Glitter ad
11.07AM, Wed Mar 15 2006
Online leisure firm lastminute.com has been slammed over an advert mentioning sex offender Gary Glitter by the industry's own watchdog.
The Advertising Standards Authority ruled the website breached decency rules over a theatre ticket mailout.
Its advert stated: "Like Gary Glitter in a sweet shop, you too can have your pick of kiddy treats in London's theatre world.
"If you don't know what to do with your lovely sprogs, get them off the X-Box and into the theatre. These shows will definitely be their cup of Ribena ..."
It showed two young boys' faces with the title "Doing it for the kids".
The online firm's email advert was likely to cause serious or widespread offence, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled.
Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, was jailed in Vietnam earlier this month for molesting two young girls.
The former glam rocker was given a four-month UK jail sentence in 1999 after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children. He left the country after his release.
After investigating the complaint, the ASA noted that the advert played on "contemporary, tasteless humour" based on Glitter's UK conviction but added: "We considered the reference to a registered sex offender in conjunction with images of children in an ad for children's theatre was likely to cause serious or widespread offence."
Lastminute.com said it had pulled the email and regretted any offence caused.
A spokesman for the website said: "We aim to create advertising which makes us stand out. However, on this occasion we realise that there has been an error in our judgment, and the email was misguided and inappropriate."
"Like Gary Glitter in a sweet shop, you too can have your pick of kiddy treats...."
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Originally Posted by Shambles
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