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| Rolf Harris awaits sentencing after conviction for indecent assaults | Rolf Harris awaits sentencing after conviction for indecent assaults |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Rolf Harris will be sentenced after midday on Friday after a court heard moving statements from victims of his abuse and a plea that he should not die in jail. | Rolf Harris will be sentenced after midday on Friday after a court heard moving statements from victims of his abuse and a plea that he should not die in jail. |
| The 84-year-old faces a potentially lengthy jail term after being found guilty of a series of indecent assaults on young women and girls, including an eight-year-old autograph hunter and the 13-year-old friend of his daughter. | The 84-year-old faces a potentially lengthy jail term after being found guilty of a series of indecent assaults on young women and girls, including an eight-year-old autograph hunter and the 13-year-old friend of his daughter. |
| On Friday, Harris listened impassively as victim impact statements were read out at Southwark crown court. His daughter's friend said the abuse he inflicted had made her drink, wrecked her career and given her panic attacks. | On Friday, Harris listened impassively as victim impact statements were read out at Southwark crown court. His daughter's friend said the abuse he inflicted had made her drink, wrecked her career and given her panic attacks. |
| A statement by the woman who was eight when she was groped said she had been "an innocent" at the time and was left an "angry child". Harris had done it "for fun and probably forgot about it", she said. | A statement by the woman who was eight when she was groped said she had been "an innocent" at the time and was left an "angry child". Harris had done it "for fun and probably forgot about it", she said. |
| The prosecution barrister, Sasha Wass QC, told the court that Harris had also been charged with four counts of viewing indecent images, which were to have been tried separately, but the CPS would not pursue these charges in light of Monday's guilty verdicts. | The prosecution barrister, Sasha Wass QC, told the court that Harris had also been charged with four counts of viewing indecent images, which were to have been tried separately, but the CPS would not pursue these charges in light of Monday's guilty verdicts. |
| The defence counsel, Sonia Woodley QC, said in mitigation that apart from the assaults against Bindi's friend, Harris's crimes had been brief and "opportunistic, not predatory". For the last 20 years he had led an "upright life", and he had been patron of 16 charities. | The defence counsel, Sonia Woodley QC, said in mitigation that apart from the assaults against Bindi's friend, Harris's crimes had been brief and "opportunistic, not predatory". For the last 20 years he had led an "upright life", and he had been patron of 16 charities. |
| Since his arrest in 2012 Harris had been "a prisoner in his own home" due to media frenzy, Woodley said. He was now 84 and "living on borrowed time", and the prison term should reflect this. Woodley asked the judge to give Harris a sentence "which gives him some hope for the future". | Since his arrest in 2012 Harris had been "a prisoner in his own home" due to media frenzy, Woodley said. He was now 84 and "living on borrowed time", and the prison term should reflect this. Woodley asked the judge to give Harris a sentence "which gives him some hope for the future". |
| Harris arrived in court on Friday wearing a grey suit, white shirt and striped tie. Earlier he was seen leaving his riverside home in Bray, Berkshire, by boat. His wife, Alwen, was not in court for his sentencing. | Harris arrived in court on Friday wearing a grey suit, white shirt and striped tie. Earlier he was seen leaving his riverside home in Bray, Berkshire, by boat. His wife, Alwen, was not in court for his sentencing. |
| The veteran entertainer was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on Monday, when he was warned by the trial judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, that a jail sentence was extremely likely. | The veteran entertainer was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault on Monday, when he was warned by the trial judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, that a jail sentence was extremely likely. |
| "In reality, given the conviction on all 12 counts, it is inevitable that the type of sentence that is uppermost in the court's mind is a custodial sentence and he must understand that," Sweeney told Harris's barrister. | "In reality, given the conviction on all 12 counts, it is inevitable that the type of sentence that is uppermost in the court's mind is a custodial sentence and he must understand that," Sweeney told Harris's barrister. |
| He would be jailed under the terms of the law at the time of the assaults, which date between the late 1960s and 1985, meaning each offence has a maximum term of between two and 10 years. It is up to the judge to determine whether terms run concurrently or consecutively. | He would be jailed under the terms of the law at the time of the assaults, which date between the late 1960s and 1985, meaning each offence has a maximum term of between two and 10 years. It is up to the judge to determine whether terms run concurrently or consecutively. |
| The jury unanimously found the Australian-born TV star and artist guilty of seven assaults against the childhood friend of his daughter Bindi, beginning when the girl was aged 13 and on holiday. The court heard Harris continued a sexual liaison with the woman, 35 years his junior, until her late 20s. | The jury unanimously found the Australian-born TV star and artist guilty of seven assaults against the childhood friend of his daughter Bindi, beginning when the girl was aged 13 and on holiday. The court heard Harris continued a sexual liaison with the woman, 35 years his junior, until her late 20s. |
| He was also convicted of groping a girl aged about eight who had sought his autograph at a public event in Portsmouth, and touching a teenage waitress during the filming of a TV show in Cambridge. | He was also convicted of groping a girl aged about eight who had sought his autograph at a public event in Portsmouth, and touching a teenage waitress during the filming of a TV show in Cambridge. |
| The three final counts relate to an assault on a then 15-year-old member of an Australian youth theatre group in 1986 when she was on a tour of the UK. That victim, Tonya Lee, waived her right to anonymity after selling her story to the media. | |
| As well as the four victims whose evidence formed the charges, the trial heard evidence from six more alleged victims as so-called bad character witnesses. Seven more alleged victims did not give their evidence for legal reasons. | As well as the four victims whose evidence formed the charges, the trial heard evidence from six more alleged victims as so-called bad character witnesses. Seven more alleged victims did not give their evidence for legal reasons. |
| During and since the court case a series of other women have come forward to make allegations against Harris, with the police and NSPCC charity saying they have received a number of calls. | During and since the court case a series of other women have come forward to make allegations against Harris, with the police and NSPCC charity saying they have received a number of calls. |
| Harris now faces the possibility of losing much of his £11m fortune after some victims contacted a law firm specialising in civil compensation claims over sexual abuse. | Harris now faces the possibility of losing much of his £11m fortune after some victims contacted a law firm specialising in civil compensation claims over sexual abuse. |
| Since the verdict, Harris's home town in Western Australia has begun to shed its association with the entertainer, stripping him of honours and making plans to remove a plaque outside his childhood home. | Since the verdict, Harris's home town in Western Australia has begun to shed its association with the entertainer, stripping him of honours and making plans to remove a plaque outside his childhood home. |