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Rolf Harris abuse had 'catastrophic effect', says victim Rolf Harris abuse had 'catastrophic effect', says victim
(35 minutes later)
A woman who was indecently assaulted by Rolf Harris has said the abuse had a "catastrophic effect" on her and destroyed her "childhood innocence". A woman who was indecently assaulted by Rolf Harris has said the abuse destroyed her "childhood innocence".
Victim statements are being read in court ahead of the sentencing of Harris, 84, who was convicted of all 12 indecent assault charges he had faced.Victim statements are being read in court ahead of the sentencing of Harris, 84, who was convicted of all 12 indecent assault charges he had faced.
Judge Mr Justice Sweeney previously said the entertainer faced jail. Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said he would take into account Harris's breach of trust as a celebrity when sentencing.
Prosecutors meanwhile said Harris would not stand trial over allegations he downloaded sexual images of children. Prosecutors meanwhile say Harris will not stand trial over allegations he downloaded sexual images of children.
In the statement read in Southwark Crown Court, the victim said she had "carried" what Harris did to her "for most of my life". In a victim statement read in Southwark Crown Court, the woman said she had "carried" what Harris did to her - when she was aged seven or eight - "for most of my life".
She was seven or eight when Harris indecently assaulted her at a community centre in Hampshire in 1968 or 1969 as she queued to get an autograph. She was indecently assaulted at a community centre in Hampshire in 1968 or 1969 as she queued to get an autograph, and said she later became "an angry child" who was "unable to trust men" as a result of the abuse.
She said she became "an angry child" who was "unable to trust men" as a result of the abuse. Another victim who has waived her right to anonymity, Australian Tonya Lee, said Harris had taken her "ability to feel safe", adding in her statement that she remained in "a constant state of anxiety".
Another victim who has waived her right to anonymity, Tonya Lee, said Harris had taken her "ability to feel safe", adding in her statement 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 at the age of 15.
Harris earlier arrived at court where he will be sentenced for indecently assaulting four girls - including one who was aged seven or eight. A statement from another victim, who was 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".
He arrived at court with his daughter, Bindi, but his wife Alwen did not accompany him. The judge said he would also take into account the age gap between Harris and his victims when sentencing him.
Harris earlier arrived at court - where he will be sentenced for indecently assaulting four girls - with his daughter but his wife Alwen did not accompany him.
During his trial, which ended on Monday, the court heard how he used his "status and position" to abuse his victims and that the former television presenter had a dark side to his personality.During his trial, which ended on Monday, the court heard how he used his "status and position" to abuse his victims and that the former television presenter had a dark side to his personality.
One victim, who was assaulted by Harris in 1977, has told the BBC he was a "fraud" who "hurt women". Another woman, who says she was assaulted by Harris in 1977, has told the BBC he was a "fraud" who "hurt women".
Karen Gardner, who gave evidence at Harris's trial and has waived her right to anonymity, said the entertainer had put his arm round her and touched her breast while in Cambridge. Karen Gardner, who has waived her right to anonymity and who submitted written evidence to the trial, said the entertainer had put his arm round her and touched her breast while in Cambridge.
"I was shocked, I was very surprised. This was the man who sang 'Two Little Boys' and painted lovely paintings," she said."I was shocked, I was very surprised. This was the man who sang 'Two Little Boys' and painted lovely paintings," she said.
She told the BBC that Harris was not "the man he pretended to be".She told the BBC that Harris was not "the man he pretended to be".
GroomedGroomed
The central allegation concerned Harris's daughter's friend, whom the court heard he had groomed and molested from the age of 13 until she was 19. The central allegation against Harris concerned his daughter's childhood friend, whom the court heard he had groomed and indecently assaulted repeatedly, including once when his daughter was asleep in the same room.
One of the girls was a childhood friend of his daughter, whom he repeatedly assaulted from when she was 13.
He was found to have indecently assaulted her repeatedly, including once when his daughter was asleep in the same room.
The other victims told the court they had been touched or groped by Harris, sometimes at his public appearances.The other victims told the court they had been touched or groped by Harris, sometimes at his public appearances.
One woman said Harris touched her inappropriately when she was seven or eight while he was signing autographs in Hampshire in the late 1960s.
Harris was also convicted of groping a teenage waitress at a charity event in Cambridge in the 1970s.
An Australian woman Tonya Lee - who has waived her legal right to anonymity - said he had abused her three times on one day while she was on a theatre group trip to the UK at the age of 15.
Operation Yewtree
Six women also told the court about indecent assaults Harris had carried out against them in Australia, New Zealand and Malta. He could not be prosecuted over these incidents in a British court but the evidence was introduced as an added illustration of his behaviour.Six women also told the court about indecent assaults Harris had carried out against them in Australia, New Zealand and Malta. He could not be prosecuted over these incidents in a British court but the evidence was introduced as an added illustration of his behaviour.
Harris, from Bray, Berkshire, was first questioned in November 2012 in Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree investigation set up in the wake of revelations about abuse committed by BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.Harris, from Bray, Berkshire, was first questioned in November 2012 in Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree investigation set up in the wake of revelations about abuse committed by BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.
Lawyers for Harris wrote to media organisations, including the BBC, at the time warning them against naming the entertainer and threatening libel action.Lawyers for Harris wrote to media organisations, including the BBC, at the time warning them against naming the entertainer and threatening libel action.
When he was arrested again in March 2013 the Metropolitan Police did not name him and Harris was not identified in the mainstream media until a few weeks later.When he was arrested again in March 2013 the Metropolitan Police did not name him and Harris was not identified in the mainstream media until a few weeks later.