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| Rolf Harris victims speak of abuse | Rolf Harris victims speak of abuse |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rolf Harris's victims have described the "catastrophic" effect of his abuse, as the former entertainer was jailed for nearly six years. | Rolf Harris's victims have described the "catastrophic" effect of his abuse, as the former entertainer was jailed for nearly six years. |
| Their statements were read in court before the 84-year-old was sentenced for 12 indecent assaults on four girls, including one aged just seven or eight. | Their statements were read in court before the 84-year-old was sentenced for 12 indecent assaults on four girls, including one aged just seven or eight. |
| One victim said the abuse had destroyed her "childhood innocence", while another said the assaults made her feel "dirty, grubby and disgusting". | |
| Others described how they had struggled to move on, with one saying the abuse had "haunted her". | |
| 'Never move on' | 'Never move on' |
| Australian Tonya Lee - who has waived her right to anonymity - said Harris had taken her "ability to feel safe", adding that she remained in "a constant state of anxiety". | Australian Tonya Lee - who has waived her right to anonymity - said Harris had taken her "ability to feel safe", adding that she remained in "a constant state of anxiety". |
| She was abused three times in one day by Harris while she was on a theatre group trip to the UK aged 15, in 1986. | She was abused three times in one day by Harris while she was on a theatre group trip to the UK aged 15, in 1986. |
| "What Mr Harris took from me was my very essence," her statement said. "I believe that it was for Mr Harris a forgettable moment but it was something for me I will never move on from. | "What Mr Harris took from me was my very essence," her statement said. "I believe that it was for Mr Harris a forgettable moment but it was something for me I will never move on from. |
| "I know the person I am today is not the person I should have been." | "I know the person I am today is not the person I should have been." |
| 'Dirty, grubby and disgusting' | 'Dirty, grubby and disgusting' |
| A statement from another victim - a childhood friend of Harris's daughter Bindi - said the continued abuse she suffered between the ages of 13 and 19 "had a detrimental effect on my life". | A statement from another victim - a childhood friend of Harris's daughter Bindi - said the continued abuse she suffered between the ages of 13 and 19 "had a detrimental effect on my life". |
| The victim, who was in court but spoke through her lawyer, said the assaults made her feel "dirty, grubby and disgusting", adding Harris had "used and abused me to such a degree that it made me feel worthless". | The victim, who was in court but spoke through her lawyer, said the assaults made her feel "dirty, grubby and disgusting", adding Harris had "used and abused me to such a degree that it made me feel worthless". |
| "As a young girl I had aspirations to have a career, settle down and have a family," she said. | "As a young girl I had aspirations to have a career, settle down and have a family," she said. |
| "However, as a direct result of his actions, this has never materialised. The knowledge of what he had done to me haunted me." | "However, as a direct result of his actions, this has never materialised. The knowledge of what he had done to me haunted me." |
| She said she had been convinced nobody would believe her, saying: "My loved ones couldn't understand why I drank so much until I told them what Rolf had done to me for so long." | She said she had been convinced nobody would believe her, saying: "My loved ones couldn't understand why I drank so much until I told them what Rolf had done to me for so long." |
| Speaking after sentencing, she described the jail term as "immaterial". | Speaking after sentencing, she described the jail term as "immaterial". |
| 'Carry it with me' | 'Carry it with me' |
| One victim, who was aged seven or eight when she was assaulted as she queued to get an autograph, said she had "carried" what Harris did to her "for most of my life". | One victim, who was aged seven or eight when she was assaulted as she queued to get an autograph, said she had "carried" what Harris did to her "for most of my life". |
| She was indecently assaulted at a community centre in Hampshire in 1968 or 1969 and said she later became "an angry child" who was "unable to trust men" as a result of the abuse. | She was indecently assaulted at a community centre in Hampshire in 1968 or 1969 and said she later became "an angry child" who was "unable to trust men" as a result of the abuse. |
| Harris had taken away her "childhood innocence", she said. | Harris had taken away her "childhood innocence", she said. |
| 'Treated like a toy' | 'Treated like a toy' |
| A statement from a fourth victim, who had been working as a waitress at a charity event in Cambridge at the age of 13 or 14 when Harris abused her, said the experience had had a "huge impact on my life". | A statement from a fourth victim, who had been working as a waitress at a charity event in Cambridge at the age of 13 or 14 when Harris abused her, said the experience had had a "huge impact on my life". |
| She said the star "treated me like a toy" that he could play with for his own pleasure. | She said the star "treated me like a toy" that he could play with for his own pleasure. |