Veteran Entertainer Convicted Of 12 Charges

Former TV personality and entertainer Rolf Harris has been found guilty of 12 charges related to the indecent assault of four girls between 1968 and 1986.

Following a seven-week trial at Southwark Crown Court and jury deliberations of more than 37 hours, Harris was found guilty of all of the changes he was prosecuted on.

A number of the charges specifically related to one victim, a friend of Harris’s daughter, who the court heard the presenter had groomed from the age of 13.

Harris is now due to be sentenced on Friday, with judge Mr Justice Sweeney stating that a custodial term was “uppermost in the court’s mind”.

Expert Opinion

Following the cases of Stuart Hall and Jimmy Savile, it is shocking to see yet more revelations emerge regarding another high-profile figure in the public eye. <br/> <br/>"However, as with any case of this nature, it is vital that the welfare of victims is always a priority. Those affected by these issues will need continued support in order to take steps towards coming to terms with the crimes committed against them, so it is vital they get access to specialist support and services. <br/> <br/>"In the long term, it is vital that lessons are learned from cases like these which in turn will ensure that more can be done to safeguard children from abuse or neglect. We should not forget that the majority of survivors of abuse were not abused by celebrities but by adults in close proximity and in their families or local community." Tracey Storey - Partner