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Teenager 'developed eating disorder after Harris assault' Teenager 'developed eating disorder after Harris assault'
(about 1 hour later)
A teenage girl developed an eating disorder and abandoned her dream of becoming a theatre star after Rolf Harris abused her, a court has heard.A teenage girl developed an eating disorder and abandoned her dream of becoming a theatre star after Rolf Harris abused her, a court has heard.
Australian Tonya Lee, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she was on a theatre trip to the UK in 1986 when the veteran entertainer fondled her. Australian Tonya Lee, who has waived her right to anonymity, said she was on a theatre trip to the UK in 1986 when the entertainer fondled her.
She told Southwark Crown Court that the abuse left her feeling depressed, like she "didn't have a place in the world". She told Southwark Crown Court the incident had left her depressed, like she "didn't have a place in the world".
Mr Harris, from Bray, Berkshire, denies 12 counts of indecent assault. Mr Harris, 84, from Bray, Berkshire, denies 12 counts of indecent assault.
He is accused of assaulting a total of four girls in the UK between 1968 and 1986, when they were aged between seven or eight and 19. He is accused of assaulting four girls in the UK between 1968 and 1986, when they were aged between seven or eight and 19.
Three of the counts relate to Ms Lee.Three of the counts relate to Ms Lee.
Ms Lee, now 43, said she was 15 when Mr Harris invited her to sit on his lap, before moving his hand up her leg and assaulting her. Ms Lee, now 43, said she was 15 when Mr Harris asked her to sit on his lap, before moving his hand up her leg and assaulting her.
The musician, artist and TV presenter is said to have met the girl and her group at Heathrow Airport, later going with them for dinner at a pub. The musician, artist and TV presenter is said to have met the girl's youth theatre group at Heathrow Airport, later going with them for dinner at a pub.
It was there that he is alleged to have carried out the assault. It was there he is alleged to have carried out the assault.
Ms Lee told the court that the incident left her "petrified" and that she "stopped eating" and would "throw up" during the six-week theatre trip. Passion lost
She said she lost weight as a result. Ms Lee told the court that the incident left her "petrified" and that she "stopped eating" and would "throw up" during the group's six-week trip.
'Lost passion' She said she lost weight as a result and had continuing health problems.
"I became very depressed," she told the court of her return home from the trip."I became very depressed," she told the court of her return home from the trip.
She stopped going to her theatre group, she said.She stopped going to her theatre group, she said.
"I just wasn't there any more, I'd lost that passion, I'd lost that desire."I just wasn't there any more, I'd lost that passion, I'd lost that desire.
"There were days when I'd be lying in bed and I'd find it difficult to function. My schoolwork started to suffer. I just didn't feel like I really fit in anywhere. I used to feel like I didn't have a place in the world.""There were days when I'd be lying in bed and I'd find it difficult to function. My schoolwork started to suffer. I just didn't feel like I really fit in anywhere. I used to feel like I didn't have a place in the world."
Describing the alleged assault, Ms Lee said she could feel "some movement" beneath her as she sat on Mr Harris's lap. 'Very subtle'
"He was moving back and forth rubbing against me," she said. "It was very subtle, it wasn't big movements. Everything just seemed to be going on as normal." Describing the alleged assault, Ms Lee said: "He was moving back and forth rubbing against me.
The jury heard that Mr Harris patted her on the thigh. Ms Lee said he then "began to move his hand up my inner thigh". "It was very subtle, it wasn't big movements. Everything just seemed to be going on as normal."
She said she felt "very uncomfortable" when Mr Harris touched her genitals over her clothing. The jury heard that Mr Harris then patted her on the thigh and moved his hand up.
Ms Lee said she felt "very uncomfortable" when Mr Harris touched her genitals over her clothing.
She said she "started to panic" and rushed off to the toilet.She said she "started to panic" and rushed off to the toilet.
"I was wondering what to do... and also I was confused," she said."I was wondering what to do... and also I was confused," she said.
"The whole time this was happening just normal interaction was going on.""The whole time this was happening just normal interaction was going on."
Waiting outside Waiting for her
She said when she came out of the toilet Mr Harris was waiting for her and gave her "a big bear hug" before putting his hand down her top.
Ms Lee said she decided not to speak out at the time because the theatre group's artistic director, Kathy Henkel, was a friend of Mr Harris's.Ms Lee said she decided not to speak out at the time because the theatre group's artistic director, Kathy Henkel, was a friend of Mr Harris's.
She said when she came out of the toilet Mr Harris was waiting outside and gave her "a big bear hug". "I was petrified... I was in shock," she said.
He then put his hand down her top, fondling her breast, she said.
"I was petrified... I was in shock," Ms Lee said.
She said she thought no one would believe her if she said anything "because it was Rolf Harris".She said she thought no one would believe her if she said anything "because it was Rolf Harris".
Ms Lee said she became "an empty vessel" after the alleged assaults and developed an eating disorder, causing her to lose weight. Under cross-examination, Ms Lee admitted selling her story to the Australian media.
She said she "stopped eating" and would "throw up" during the six-week UK tour. She said accepting the money had been a "huge mistake" which she regretted.
The case continues.The case continues.