Rolf Harris in court over assault charges

83-year-old charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child

Entertainer Rolf Harris appeared in court today charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four counts of making indecent images of a child.

The 83-year-old is accused of assaulting two alleged victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, between 1980 and 1986.

The Australian artist, musician and television presenter arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his wife Alwen in a silver car with blacked out windows.

Wearing a dark suit, striped shirt and patterned tie, he said nothing to waiting reporters as he walked into the building.

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During the brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Harris spoke only to answer personal details.

He was bailed and will next appear at Southward Crown Court on October 7th.

Alwen, wearing a blue and white dress with a blue jacket, used a red plastic stool as a step as she was helped out of the car.

Harris then walked with her through the crowd, which included a campaigner who held a placard saying: “Rolf Harris is innocent OK”. He was accompanied by suited security guards.

Harris was questioned under caution in November last year by officers working on Operation Yewtree, the national investigation launched after abuse claims were made against Jimmy Savile.

He was then arrested in March, and charged in August. The allegations against Harris have no connection to Savile.

The charges against him are:

- Six counts of indecent assault relating to a girl aged between 15 and 16, from 1980 to 1981;

- Three offences of indecent assault relating to a girl aged 14, in 1986;

- Four offences of making indecent images of a child between March and July 2012.

Harris, who painted a portrait of the Queen in 2005 and performed at her Diamond Jubilee concert last year, has been in the public eye for decades.

He had his first musical hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport in 1960, and continued to enjoy success in the industry as well as forging a television career.

Harris, who has lived in Bray, Berkshire, for more than 50 years, has also received a number of honours and was made Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours last year.

PA