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Photo: REX
UK News

Rolf Harris guilty of indecent assaults

This afternoon a jury convicted the 84 year old entertainer of all 12 counts against him. In a trial lasting seven weeks, Southwark Crown Court heard Harris carried out attacks on four girls over an 18 year period from 1968, with the youngest just seven or eight years old.

Pete Saunders is a Christian and chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC).

He gave his reaction to the verdict to Premier.

The jury was told he had a "Jekyll and Hyde character" with a "dark side" to his personality.

Prosecutors said he used his fame to get close to young women.

One of the victims was a childhood friend of his daughter, Bindi. 

The now 49 year-old woman said she was first abused on holiday in Hawaii in 1978 before he carried out further attacks when they returned to Britain.

A letter written by Harris to the father of the women in 1997 after she had told her parents of the abuse was used in evidence by the prosecution.

He wrote he was in a ''state of abject self-loathing'' and said he was ''sickened'' by the ''misery I have caused".

This was a confession of the indecent assaults, according to the prosecution.

Harris was first questioned by police in November 2012, under the Operation Yewtree investigation set up in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against Jimmy Savile.

DCI Mick Orchard from the Metropolitan Police gave a statement outside Southwark Crown Court.

He said: "He committed many offences in plain sight of people as he thought his celebrity status placed him above the law.

"Today's case and verdict once again shows that we will always listen to, and investigate allegations regardless of the time frame or those involved.

We have received a number of allegations and these are now being considered."

Jenny Hopkins, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS in London, said: "Rolf Harris used his status and position as a world famous children's entertainer to sexually assault young girls over a period spanning 18 years.

"The victims in this case have suffered in silence for many years and have only recently found the courage to come forward. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery they displayed in coming to court and giving evidence. 

"That bravery and determination has seen Rolf Harris brought to justice and held to account.

"I hope today's verdict provides other victims with the courage and confidence to come forward no matter who is alleged to have carried out the abuse and when.

"Harris has been released on unconditional bail and will be sentenced on Friday."

The judge, Justice Sweeney, warned Harris it was "inevitable" a prison sentence would be possible.

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