Convicted paedophile and disgraced former entertainer Rolf Harris has died at 93.
The Australian-born artist’s dying was confirmed by a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall on Tuesday evening.
Harris was convicted in 2014 on 12 counts of indecently assaulting 4 girls and women courting again so far as 1970, with the sentencing decide stating the musician took benefit of the belief positioned in him attributable to his movie star standing.
“In every case, the age gap between you and your victim was a very considerable one,” Justice Nigel Sweeney mentioned in sentencing.
“You clearly got a thrill from committing the offences whilst others were present or nearby.
“Whilst such others didn’t realise what you had been doing, their presence added to the ordeal of your victims.”
The abuse “had a big hostile impact” on the victims, he said.
“You have proven no regret in your crimes in any respect,” Sweeney said.
“Your repute lies in ruins, you might have been stripped of your honours, however you might have no-one guilty however your self.”
The case was retried for three of the undecided offences, but the jury remained unable to reach a verdict.
The prosecution decided against another trial, and Harris returned to his home near London.
Honours and decades-long career in entertainment before arrest
Harris was born in Perth’s eastern suburbs in 1930 and had been an award-winning swimmer as a teenager.
He worked as a teacher and made several unsuccessful attempts at art school before launching his television career with a slot on a BBC show in 1952.
The artist and musician became well known for children’s television shows such as Rolf’s Cartoon Time and Animal Hospital.
He had a number of hits in the 1960s and achieved international fame with novelty songs such as Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport and Two Little Boys, almost always accompanied by his famous wobble board.
Harris went on to enjoy a 60-year career as a successful television presenter, songwriter and artist, increasingly making his home in England.
There he reached such heights that he was given the chance to paint an 80th birthday portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.
But eventually, the abuse he committed caught up with him.
Allegations against Harris were probed by Operation Yewtree, investigating allegations of decades-long abuse by public figures, including the late UK TV entertainer Jimmy Savile.
He was first interviewed by officers in November 2012 but wasn’t arrested until March the following year.
He was charged in August 2013.
It was not until June 30, 2014 that he was convicted at Southwark Crown Court.
Many were left in disbelief when in July 2014 Harris was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault on four young girls from the 1960s to the ’80s.
Prosecutors said he had a “Jekyll and Hyde” personality who used his fame to exploit his victims.
Among the victims was a friend of Harris’ daughter, who claimed he molested her when she was 13 to 19.
Harris had said their relationship was consensual, and his relatives and friends supported him throughout the trial.
But a jury convicted him of all charges, and a judge sentenced him to five years and nine months in prison.
Harris was reportedly spat on by another prisoner and transferred elsewhere, before being stripped of his Order of Australia honours in 2015.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts, which had described Harris as “one of many world’s most iconic entertainers” said it would withdraw his fellowship.
– Reported with CNN and Associated Press.
Source: www.9news.com.au
