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| Briton Simon Harris guilty of Kenyan child abuse | Briton Simon Harris guilty of Kenyan child abuse |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A British charity boss who preyed on vulnerable Kenyan street children has been found guilty of sexual abuse. | A British charity boss who preyed on vulnerable Kenyan street children has been found guilty of sexual abuse. |
| Simon Harris was found guilty of seven charges of indecent and sexual assault on youngsters in Gilgil, as well as possessing indecent images of children. | Simon Harris was found guilty of seven charges of indecent and sexual assault on youngsters in Gilgil, as well as possessing indecent images of children. |
| Birmingham Crown Court heard he would lure boys to his East African home by offering them food, shelter and money. | Birmingham Crown Court heard he would lure boys to his East African home by offering them food, shelter and money. |
| Harris, 55, of Pudleston, near Leominster, Herefordshire was cleared of seven charges, including rape. | Harris, 55, of Pudleston, near Leominster, Herefordshire was cleared of seven charges, including rape. |
| The jury unanimously found Harris guilty of five sex assaults and two counts of indecent assault. | |
| Documentary crew tip | Documentary crew tip |
| Judge Philip Parker QC told jurors he would accept majority verdicts on five remaining counts against the defendant. | Judge Philip Parker QC told jurors he would accept majority verdicts on five remaining counts against the defendant. |
| Harris had faced 23 charges in total, including 18 allegations relating to assaults. | Harris had faced 23 charges in total, including 18 allegations relating to assaults. |
| The offences were committed while Harris was running a gap year charity he set up in the East African country in the 1990s. | The offences were committed while Harris was running a gap year charity he set up in the East African country in the 1990s. |
| During his trial prosecutors said he lured homeless boys to his home, known locally as "The Green House", by offering them food and shelter. | During his trial prosecutors said he lured homeless boys to his home, known locally as "The Green House", by offering them food and shelter. |
| The court heard he would drive into Gilgil and encourage children into his Land Rover with food and money. | The court heard he would drive into Gilgil and encourage children into his Land Rover with food and money. |
| The abuse came to light when a Channel 4 documentary team making a film about the plight of Gilgil's street children was given information about his activities. | The abuse came to light when a Channel 4 documentary team making a film about the plight of Gilgil's street children was given information about his activities. |
| A number of witnesses gave evidence against Harris via satellite link from the Kenyan town. | A number of witnesses gave evidence against Harris via satellite link from the Kenyan town. |
| Harris was prosecuted using legislation which allows British citizens to be tried for sex offences committed abroad against children if it is also an offence in that country. | Harris was prosecuted using legislation which allows British citizens to be tried for sex offences committed abroad against children if it is also an offence in that country. |
| Before the trial, Harris admitted six offences of indecent assault against three boys aged between 13 and 14 when he was a teacher at Shebbear College, Devon, in the 1980s. | Before the trial, Harris admitted six offences of indecent assault against three boys aged between 13 and 14 when he was a teacher at Shebbear College, Devon, in the 1980s. |
| He had originally faced 22 charges relating to assaults in Kenya, but Judge Philip Parker QC told jurors four had been removed from the indictment mid-trial. | He had originally faced 22 charges relating to assaults in Kenya, but Judge Philip Parker QC told jurors four had been removed from the indictment mid-trial. |