Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Rolf Harris leaves Southwark Crown Court in 2017. PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Disgraced entertainer and convicted sex offender Rolf Harris dies aged 93

His case caused widespread revulsion in Britain and his homeland Australia, where his television programmes were watched by millions of children.

LAST UPDATE | 23 May 2023

DISGRACED ENTERTAINER AND convicted sex offender Rolf Harris has died aged 93.

The Australian-born TV presenter was a family favourite for decades before being convicted of a string of indecent assaults in June 2014.

These included one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter’s friend over 16 years.

A statement from his family, released through his solicitor, said: “This is to confirm that Rolf Harris recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest.

“They ask that you respect their privacy. No further comment will be made.”

Once a much-loved artist and musician, Harris was jailed for five years and nine months after being convicted of 12 assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986.

Sentencing Harris, Mr Justice Sweeney told him: “Your reputation lies in ruins. You have been stripped of your honours and you have no-one to blame but yourself.”

In May 2017, he was formally cleared of four unconnected historical sex offences, which he had denied.

Later the same year, one of the 12 indecent assault convictions was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

He remained out of the spotlight until 2019, when he walked on to the premises of a primary school in his home town, reportedly to talk to a sculptor working in the grounds.

Harris left as soon as he was asked and the school said no pupils came into contact with him. No arrests were made.

Harris was released on licence from HMP Stafford on May 19 2017, less than three years after his sentence began.

At the time, his was the biggest celebrity scalp to be claimed by detectives from high-profile sex crime investigation Operation Yewtree.

He was the second person convicted under the national inquiry, set up in the wake of abuse claims against late DJ and entertainer Jimmy Savile.

In light of his conviction, Harris had his 2012 Bafta fellowship removed and was stripped of his CBE (the highest ranking Order of the British Empire award). He also had Australian honours taken away.

He was made an MBE in the 1960s, an OBE a decade later and a CBE in 2006 – the year after he painted the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday portrait.

It was unveiled at Buckingham Palace on 19 December 2005.

The portrait was exhibited at Buckingham Palace and Holyroodhouse, and was taken on a tour of public galleries throughout the UK.

After his conviction, it disappeared.

The decision to revoke his CBE, which can be recommended by the Honours and Appointments Secretariat to the Forfeiture Committee, must be approved by the sovereign.

Close
50 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavin Harrison
    Favourite Gavin Harrison
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:29 PM

    If he was Irish the local GAA club would send in a character reference to court talking about his good character, work for the community and volunteering for the GAA.

    419
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute An Drew Bearla
    Favourite An Drew Bearla
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:06 PM

    @Gavin Harrison: but he wasnt Irish. He got a few references from the local Kangaroo and one from a BBQ.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Lyons
    Favourite James Lyons
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:06 PM

    Makes you wanna believe there’s a hell

    309
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:38 PM

    @James Lyons: Victim A: Police wrote to every household in the home in a small Devon village of victim A, appealing for corroborating eye witnesses of Harris twice touching her inappropriately in front of her mother when she was about 9 years old, after cueing to meet him at a packed autograph signing event “attended by hundreds of towns folk.”.

    Police trawled council records and newspapers but failed to find any support that the autograph singing event took place. No one came forward, and no written evidence was found that the event took place. The council was clear that if their town hall was used, they would have a record of it. Before naming Harris, victim A was a member of a child abuse support group and she only named Harris after he was named in the media.

    His conviction relating to Victim A was quashed in appeal. New evidence included retired policemen from a police station across the road from the town hall where the supposed autograph signing event took place sating no such event occurred, as well as people who used to town hall as a tearoom similarly sating no even took place.

    Victim B said that Harris firmly touched her bottom at a charity sports event in 1978, however in TV she changed her story. She couldn’t remember where in Cambridge it happened, she mixed up the parks. She said was very surprised he was convicted of the assault on her and she was happy to help the other victims.

    At the 2nd trial, Victim B’s claim that Harris also assaulted her in a taxi on the same day was rejected.

    Victim D was thousands of dollars in depth when she sold her story for £33,000, of Harris assaulting her in packed pub via her publicity agent and boyfriend. The event was attended by her chaperone and dance group, the first assault happened as she sat on his lap and he again assaulted her after she ran to the pub toilets. She claimed the assault gave her an eating disorder and she could not get any acting parts. However, it was shown she landed an acting part in a TV soap a month after returning to Australia and did not lose weight. Her chaperone clearly remembered the night, that everyone had a good time, she didn’t notice victim D getting upset and she became friends with Harris who she said was very generous and helpful. She at first didn’t believe victim D until she met and talked to her in person.

    At a 2nd trial, a recording was played to the jury of her now ex-boyfriend accusing her of making up her claims for money.

    Victim C, friend of the family. I leave this case till last, as it’s her case that was central to his case.

    Harris was in a consensual relationship with Victim C for about 10 years until she was 29 years old. Then in the early 90s Harris claimed she phoned him and demanded £5000 for her boyfriend’s failing bird sanctuary, Harris claimed it was blackmail and soon after this demand for n money her accusations of sexual abuse were made. However, she has a different story, she said she asked him for £33,000 in 1994, a year after their affair ended, but said it wasn’t blackmail.

    Book written by a member of his defence team at his 2nd trial describes the shaking evidence against Harris:

    https://www.amazon.com/Rolf-Harris-Defence-Special-Investigator-ebook/dp/B0B142BLNY/

    210
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:44 PM

    @James Lyons: I have another comment here, from 2014, with links and more far more information regarding the case against Harris.

    https://www.thejournal.ie/rolf-harris-appeal-court-1600392-Aug2014/

    57
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:50 PM

    @James Lyons:
    The Devil has booked the first dance with him.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Buckley
    Favourite Ray Buckley
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:57 PM

    @David Jordan: Good insight , thanks .

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Míchael Búrké
    Favourite Míchael Búrké
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:54 PM

    @David Jordan: Is that you Mrs. Harris?

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Murphy
    Favourite Tony Murphy
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 6:04 PM

    @David Jordan: I don’t often agree with you David but I think you’re right here. It’s frightening that anybody can come along years after an alleged event and just accuse someone and that person gets destroyed.

    Having said that Jimmy Savile was known to be a predator of the worst kind yet nobody did anything about it while he lived.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Johnson
    Favourite Joe Johnson
    Report
    May 24th 2023, 7:31 PM

    @James Lyons: Yea Jim’ll fix it in hell

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Farrell
    Favourite Brian Farrell
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:09 PM

    You should only speak good of the dead.

    Rolf is dead, good.

    230
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
    Favourite Ciaran O'Mara
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:47 PM

    @Brian Farrell: Rolf was a monster, but I am old enough to remember how much he was loved by the public in the 60s and 70s. “Two little boys” and “Tie me kangaroo down sport” were played constantly in those times. He was a massive star. What a fall.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:48 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: @Brian Farrell: Convicted on very shaky evidence. There were originally four victims in the first trial and several more in the 2nd trial.

    His convictions were overturned for in a majority cases.
    He was cleared on appeal of:
    Groping a child at a packed autograph singing event in 1968, evidence showed the event did not take place.
    Groping a bind women who claimed he assaulted her in 1977 at her care home.
    Groping Victim B from the 1st Trial who claimed at his 2nd trial that he also assaulted her in the back of a taxi in 1978 after TV sport show Star Games.
    Cleared of assaulting a women in her 40s who claimed Harris groped her after filming a TV show in 2004.
    Cleared of assaulting a young autograph hunter at a radio studio in the late 70s.

    Another victim at his first trial sold her story of him groping her in a pub in 1986 for £33,000, the story was sold to newspapers via her boyfriend and publicity agent. At Harris’ appeal, a phone answer machine recording was played of her now ex-boyfriend accusing her of making up the story for money. Her chaperone said she did not see anything happen that night, and did not originally believe her. His appeal for this case was rejected.

    And a friend of the family, she was central the case. She had affair with Harris from the age of 19 to 29, but a year after their affaire ended in 1993, Harris claimed she blackmailed him by demanding £5000. Interestingly, she did not deny asking for money, in fact she said she asked him for £30,000 for her boyfriends failing bird sanctuary. Soon after asking for money, which he did not hand over, she confronted him at her parent’s home and accused him of child abuse in 1994. She made a formal complaint in 2012. His appeal for this case was rejected.

    Book written by a member of his defence team at his 2nd trial, he describes the case and the shaky evidence against Harris:

    https://www.amazon.com/Rolf-Harris-Defence-Special-Investigator-ebook/dp/B0B142BLNY/

    60
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Farrell
    Favourite Brian Farrell
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 3:25 PM

    @David Jordan: short, punchy and to the point. As per most of your comments.

    Well done.

    Out next week defending the Catholic Church?

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute FrustratedASDMum
    Favourite FrustratedASDMum
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:13 PM

    Just glad he didn’t escape justice before he died like Saville.

    206
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liz O'Neill
    Favourite Liz O'Neill
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:15 PM

    Didgereedone.

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute paul whelan
    Favourite paul whelan
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:28 PM

    The tip of the iceberg,there everywhere in the entertainment and tv world

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:33 PM

    The serious doubts regarding his convictions.

    Victim A: Police wrote to every household in the home in a small Devon village of victim A, appealing for corroborating eye witnesses of Harris twice touching her inappropriately in front of her mother when she was about 9 years old, after cueing to meet him at a packed autograph signing event “attended by hundreds of towns folk.”. Police trawled council records and newspapers but failed to find any support that the autograph singing event took place. No one came forward, and no written evidence was found the event took place. The council was clear that if their town hall was used, they would have a record of it. Before naming Harris, victim A was a member of a child abuse support group and she only named Harris after he was named in the media.

    His conviction was quashed in appeal. Evidence included witnesses retired policemen from a police station across the road from the town hall where the supposed autograph signing event took place sating no such event occurred, as well as people who used to town hall as a tearoom.

    Victim B said that Harris firmly touched her bottom at a charity sports event, on TV she changed her story to, he touched my breast in TV interviews. She couldn’t remember where in Cambridge it happened, she mixed up the parks. She said was very surprised he was convicted of the assault on her and she was happy to help the other victims.

    At the 2nd trial, Victim B’s claim that Harris also assaulted her in a taxi on the same day was rejected.

    Victim D was thousands of dollars in depth when she sold her story for £33,000, of Harris assaulting her in packed pub via her publicity agent and boyfriend. The event was attended by her chaperone and dance group, the first assault happened as she sat on his lap and he again sexually assaulted her after she ran to the pub toilets. She claimed the assault gave her an eating disorder and she could not get any acting parts. However, it was shown she landed an acting part in a TV soap a month after returning to Australia. Her chaperone clearly remembered the night, that everyone had a good time, she didn’t notice victim D getting upset an she became friends with Harris who she said was very generous and helpful. She at first didn’t believe victim D until she met and talked to her in person.

    At a 2nd trial, a recording was played to the jury of her now ex-boyfriend accusing her of making up her claims for money.

    Victim C, friend of the family. I leave this case till last, as it’s her case that was central to his case.

    Harris was in a consensual relationship with Victim C for about 10 years until she was 29 years old. Then in the early 90s Harris claimed she phoned him and demanded £5000 for her boyfriend’s failing bird sanctuary, Harris claimed it was blackmail an after this her accusations of sexual abuse were made. However, she has a different story, she said she asked him for £30,000 in 1994, a year after their affair ended, but said it wasn’t blackmail. So the year she broke up with Harris, she started accusing him of child abuse in the after she didn’t get the money for her boyfriend’s bird sanctuary.

    Book written by a member of his defence team at his 2nd trial:

    https://www.amazon.com/Rolf-Harris-Defence-Special-Investigator-ebook/dp/B0B142BLNY/

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Míchael Búrké
    Favourite Míchael Búrké
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:58 PM

    @David Jordan: These repeat diatribes of yours have more the a whiff of desperation about them. Why the multiple repeat comments?

    145
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Lyster
    Favourite Derek Lyster
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:07 PM

    Shame it took so long

    79
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rotts
    Favourite Rotts
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:08 PM

    That’s great news and it most certainly brighten up my day

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Reid
    Favourite Jimmy Reid
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:07 PM

    In the ground without a box. Good riddance

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corcoran
    Favourite David Corcoran
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:07 PM

    How God allowed him to live so long baffles me

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mulligan
    Favourite John Mulligan
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:20 PM

    @David Corcoran: The Devil looks after his own.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gearóid MacEachaidh
    Favourite Gearóid MacEachaidh
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:32 PM

    @David Corcoran: it’s almost as if God doesn’t exist

    166
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Cahill
    Favourite Rob Cahill
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:03 PM

    @David Corcoran: Not really that baffling to be fair.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Dunne
    Favourite Brian Dunne
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:06 PM

    Feck the loss

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WhaleOil BeefHooked
    Favourite WhaleOil BeefHooked
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:06 PM

    Straight to hell.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavin Courtney
    Favourite Gavin Courtney
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:26 PM

    Good riddance. He won’t be missed

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
    Favourite sean o'dhubhghaill
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 3:05 PM

    He was NEVER as creepy or as cringey as Jimmy Saville. Saville ALWAYS made my skin crawl.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Murphy
    Favourite Tony Murphy
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 6:07 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: Savile was literally a demon. Yet the Establishment, including the Royals, stood by him to the end.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Hickey
    Favourite Shane Hickey
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:18 PM

    I absolutely idolized him as a child in the 70s. Now i hope hell exists for him

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linda Hegarty
    Favourite Linda Hegarty
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:12 PM

    Best news I’ve heard on along time, it’s a pity alot more wouldn’t die as well…Good riddance.

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james melia
    Favourite james melia
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 6:10 PM

    Always seemed like he might have been scapegoated. Those were the 60s and 70s the age of the teenybopper and free love. There must have been plenty others – including household names – that got away scot free.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Gaffney
    Favourite Stephen Gaffney
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:50 PM

    Rolf Hearse

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maisfkok
    Favourite Maisfkok
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 3:04 PM

    ‘Turn off the comments’

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith P
    Favourite Keith P
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:28 PM

    The skum bag

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot O'Donnell
    Favourite Dermot O'Donnell
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:15 PM

    Not soon enough

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Kieran G.
    Favourite John Kieran G.
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 3:23 PM

    He died two weeks ago on May 10th. Already cremated and his death was only registered with the local Council today. He’s well gone by bow.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Farrell
    Favourite Brian Farrell
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:47 PM

    Can you tell if he’s dead yet.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stiofán Ó Cearnaigh
    Favourite Stiofán Ó Cearnaigh
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:22 PM

    May he burn

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sandra Lysaght
    Favourite Sandra Lysaght
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:51 PM

    Best news ive heard in a while. Delightef

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Brock
    Favourite Jim Brock
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 2:08 PM

    Must be having a Mandela effect as I thought this guy died 10 years ago.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute patrick kelly
    Favourite patrick kelly
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:25 PM

    didgeridoo

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Breda Appleby
    Favourite Breda Appleby
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 4:18 PM

    I find it hard to believe that Rolf Harris was a paedophile
    We loved his songs and stage performances
    My sister and myself just had our first babies,2 little boys,and we dedicated the song 2 little boys to them. You cant trust any of them. What a dirty rotten individual. Himself and Saville,rotten to the core and they got away with it for so long. We have to be always on the alert now. I dont think I can trust any of them
    Full of evil. Maybe God will forgive them

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pato
    Favourite Pato
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 1:23 PM

    Keep playing ’till I shoot through blue!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BarryH
    Favourite BarryH
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 8:39 PM

    It is truly horrific but beyond that are those covering up for the likes of Harris etc, who walk away Scot free. Peerveees getting part of their sentence suspended or released when they are still a danger to society. The Irish guy yesterday whose cousin the FF TD knew but said nothing and FF did nothing. 25 boys, multiple assaults and he gets roughly 6 months per assault. Shocking!! Surely if people were encouraged to report it earlier, these things could be caught earlier and only freed when they are no longer a danger to society. Even this feeble excuse of not naming the ‘ thing’ to protect the identity of the child needs to be stopped. It is more aimed at protecting the thing rather than the child and just let’s the thing off the hook.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O Mahony
    Favourite John O Mahony
    Report
    May 23rd 2023, 8:01 PM

    No loss to society

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds