This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27340134
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Rolf Harris trial: Entertainer 'assaulted friend of daughter' | Rolf Harris trial: Entertainer 'assaulted friend of daughter' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rolf Harris groomed and molested a friend of his daughter from the age of 13 onwards, a court has heard. | Rolf Harris groomed and molested a friend of his daughter from the age of 13 onwards, a court has heard. |
| The children's entertainer is accused of indecently assaulting her and three other girls between 1968 and 1986. | The children's entertainer is accused of indecently assaulting her and three other girls between 1968 and 1986. |
| The court heard she used alcohol to cope from the age of 14 and was abused by Mr Harris until she was 29. | |
| Outlining its case at Southwark Crown Court, the prosecution described Mr Harris, 84, as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character. He denies all 12 charges. | Outlining its case at Southwark Crown Court, the prosecution described Mr Harris, 84, as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character. He denies all 12 charges. |
| His alleged victims were aged between seven or eight and 19 when the offences are said to have taken place. | His alleged victims were aged between seven or eight and 19 when the offences are said to have taken place. |
| Seven of the 12 counts are alleged to have been carried out on one victim - his daughter's friend - who lived near the Harris family in south London in the 1960s. | |
| The court was read a letter Mr Harris is said to have written to the victim's father in 1997 asking for his forgiveness. | |
| The jury was told Mr Harris wrote that the woman had confronted him about the alleged abuse. | |
| "[She] told me she had been terrified of me," he is said to have written. "I said why didn't you just say no? She said to me: 'How could I say no to the great television star Rolf Harris?'" | |
| Prosecuting, Sasha Wass QC said Mr Harris "accepts that he's had a sexual relationship with her, but avoids admitting that it took place while she was under age". | |
| 'Exploited children' | 'Exploited children' |
| The court heard how she was abused while on holiday with the family as well as in her home and his. | |
| Ms Wass told the court the assaults continued "when the opportunity arose" and that by the time she was 14 the girl was relying on alcohol to cope. | |
| The jury was shown a school report which said the alleged victim had become "prone to tears and has been weeping about private/home matters". | The jury was shown a school report which said the alleged victim had become "prone to tears and has been weeping about private/home matters". |
| Ms Wass added: "The prosecution does not, for a minute, suggest that there is not a good, talented and kind side to Mr Harris. | |
| "But concealed behind this charming and amicable children's entertainer lay a man who exploited the very children who were drawn to him." | "But concealed behind this charming and amicable children's entertainer lay a man who exploited the very children who were drawn to him." |
| She added there was "a side of him which is sexually attracted to children and under-age girls" and that while working on television in Australia he was known as the "Octopus" because of the way he would put his hands on children. | She added there was "a side of him which is sexually attracted to children and under-age girls" and that while working on television in Australia he was known as the "Octopus" because of the way he would put his hands on children. |
| Mr Harris's daughter, Bindi, and his wife, Alwen Hughes, were at his side as he arrived at court. | Mr Harris's daughter, Bindi, and his wife, Alwen Hughes, were at his side as he arrived at court. |
| He entered a not guilty plea at a hearing in January. | He entered a not guilty plea at a hearing in January. |