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Rolf Harris will not stand trial over allegations he downloaded sexual images of children Rolf Harris will not stand trial over allegations he downloaded sexual images of children
(35 minutes later)
Rolf Harris has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison in a court today for a string of indecent assaults. Claims that Rolf Harris browsed websites featuring girls as young as 13 and took notes on how to delete his internet history were never heard by the jury who this week convicted him of 12 counts of indecent assault against children, it can now be reported.
Judge Mr Justice Sweeny said the entertainer had shown no remorse as he sentenced the 84-year-old at Southwark Crown Court for 12 counts of indecent assault.
The judge said the musician had been a star for over 50 years and is no longer in the best of health, but the verdicts of the jury showed he was “also a sex offender” between 1968 and 1986, whose “reputation lies in ruins”.
He said Harris took advantage of the trust placed in him through his celebrity status, adding: “You clearly got a thrill from committing offences while others were nearby.”
Harris had shown “no remorse at all” throughout the trial, he continued, telling him: “You have been stripped of your honours, you have nobody to blame but yourself”.
Harris remained emotionless in the dock as he listened to the judge’s remarks via a court hearing loop. His wife Alwen did not come to court today, although she has attended much of the trial.
Ahead of sentencing, the court heard of the damaging effects the abuse had on his victims, with the former friend of his daughter Bindi describing how the attacks made her feel “dirty, grubby and disgusting”, and led to her developing a drinking habit at an early age.
"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, his popularity with the British public made it harder for me to deal with."
In his sentencing remarks, the judge said he had “no doubt” that Harris’ crimes caused her “severe psychological harm”.
Another victim, who was assaulted by Harris when she visited England as a teenager, said the incident was a "turning point" in her life that she had never recovered from.
In her Victim Impact Statement, she said: "I have never felt safe since, I life in a constant state of anxiety."
Harris, from Bray in Berkshire, was convicted of nine assaults between 1968 and 1985 - one on a girl aged seven or eight, and the rest on teenagers aged between 14 and 19.
His youngest victim, who Harris indecently assaulted as she went to get his autograph at a community centre as a young girl, said the moment was her first taste of independence, but in those few moments her "childhood innocence was gone".
She said she became an angry and confused child, unable to express herself and unable to trust men, adding: "I carried what Rolf Harris did to me for most of my life, it took away my childhood."
A fourth victim, who was assaulted when she was a teenager as Harris took part in a celebrity game show in Cambridge in the 1970s, said he took advantage of her, making her feel ashamed. She said: "He treated me like a toy that he had played with for his own pleasure."
In mitigation, Sonia Woodley QC had argued Harris had led an “upright life” for the last two decades, outlining his charitable acts, and said he needed to be with his family in the “twilight years” of his life.
Ms Woodley said that apart from the abuse of his daughter Bindi's friend - which seven of the 12 counts related to - Harris's assaults had been "opportunistic rather than predatory".
Earlier, it was revealed that claims Harris browsed websites featuring girls as young as 13 and took notes on how to delete his internet history were never heard by the jury who this week convicted him of 12 counts of indecent assault against children, it can now be reported.
Prosecutors were due to claim that the 84-year-old entertainer, who will be sentenced later this afternoon, accessed websites with names such as "My little nieces", "Tiny teen girlfriends" and "Russian girlfriends".Prosecutors were due to claim that the 84-year-old entertainer, who will be sentenced later this afternoon, accessed websites with names such as "My little nieces", "Tiny teen girlfriends" and "Russian girlfriends".
Harris was charged with four counts of accessing indecent images by police, but never entered pleas as his defence team successfully persuaded the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, to separate them off from the main trial.Harris was charged with four counts of accessing indecent images by police, but never entered pleas as his defence team successfully persuaded the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, to separate them off from the main trial.
Today, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC told Southwark Crown Court that the Crown Prosecution Service had since decided that it was "no longer in the public interest" to pursue a second trial on the outstanding charges "in the light of the 12 unanimous convictions on the counts that Mr Harris faced".Today, prosecutor Sasha Wass QC told Southwark Crown Court that the Crown Prosecution Service had since decided that it was "no longer in the public interest" to pursue a second trial on the outstanding charges "in the light of the 12 unanimous convictions on the counts that Mr Harris faced".
The court previously heard how police searching Harris's home in Bray, Berkshire in 2012 had discovered a stash of adult images on his desktop computer, 33 of which appeared to be of children including one under the age of 13.The court previously heard how police searching Harris's home in Bray, Berkshire in 2012 had discovered a stash of adult images on his desktop computer, 33 of which appeared to be of children including one under the age of 13.
They also found a hand written notes in Harris's diary detailing how to delete material from his computer. He had written: "1) start button 2) control panel 3) internet options 4) press delete under heading below history, make sure all boxes ticked."They also found a hand written notes in Harris's diary detailing how to delete material from his computer. He had written: "1) start button 2) control panel 3) internet options 4) press delete under heading below history, make sure all boxes ticked."
Harris's defence team argued that the models in the photographs were all over 18 according to identity documents provided by the Ukrainian owners of the websites which featured them. They also claimed he had only clicked on them by accident while browsing mainstream porn sites.Harris's defence team argued that the models in the photographs were all over 18 according to identity documents provided by the Ukrainian owners of the websites which featured them. They also claimed he had only clicked on them by accident while browsing mainstream porn sites.
Earlier this morning Harris was seen leaving his riverside home, where he has been living on bail since his conviction on Monday, by boat. He arrived at court wearing a grey suit, white shirt and multicoloured tie, supported by his daughter Bindi.Earlier this morning Harris was seen leaving his riverside home, where he has been living on bail since his conviction on Monday, by boat. He arrived at court wearing a grey suit, white shirt and multicoloured tie, supported by his daughter Bindi.
During proceedings he sat in the glass dock flanked by a single security guard, listening impassively through a hearing loop headset.During proceedings he sat in the glass dock flanked by a single security guard, listening impassively through a hearing loop headset.
In mitigation, his lawyer Sonia Woodley QC said his sexual liaisons with underage girls had been "brief" and "opportunistic rather than predatory". She added that during his trial he had received two bags of cards from well-wishers and enough letters of support to fill three lever-arch files.In mitigation, his lawyer Sonia Woodley QC said his sexual liaisons with underage girls had been "brief" and "opportunistic rather than predatory". She added that during his trial he had received two bags of cards from well-wishers and enough letters of support to fill three lever-arch files.
The court also heard that Harris was suffering from "ill health", although no details were given. The judge said: "Given his ill health the effects of a prison sentence will be all the greater."The court also heard that Harris was suffering from "ill health", although no details were given. The judge said: "Given his ill health the effects of a prison sentence will be all the greater."
The court also heard extracts from victim impact statements by the four women Harris has been convicted of abusing.The court also heard extracts from victim impact statements by the four women Harris has been convicted of abusing.
One victim, who was a former friend of Harris's daughter Bindi, said: "The attacks that happened have made me feel dirty, grubby and disgusting. The whole sordid saga has traumatised me."One victim, who was a former friend of Harris's daughter Bindi, said: "The attacks that happened have made me feel dirty, grubby and disgusting. The whole sordid saga has traumatised me."
She added that the abuse had affected hear throughout her life and that she had turned to alcohol to escape.She added that the abuse had affected hear throughout her life and that she had turned to alcohol to escape.
"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, his popularity with the British public made it harder for me to deal with.""However, as a direct result of his actions, this has never materialised. The knowledge of what he had done to me haunted me. However, his popularity with the British public made it harder for me to deal with."
Another victim, who was assaulted by Harris when she visited England as a teenager, said the incident was a "turning point" in her life from which she had never recovered. "I have never felt safe since, I live life in a constant state of anxiety," she said.Another victim, who was assaulted by Harris when she visited England as a teenager, said the incident was a "turning point" in her life from which she had never recovered. "I have never felt safe since, I live life in a constant state of anxiety," she said.