[L-R] Daughter Bindi, Rolf, Wife Alwen & Niece Jenny Harris
He will be sentenced on Friday.
The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, said a custodial term was “uppermost in the court’s mind”. The central allegation was primarily focused on the friend of Rolf’s daughter, Bindi, whom the court heard he molested from the age of 13 until she was 19. The other victims told the court they were touched or groped by Harris, sometimes at his public appearances.
The Southwark Crown Court jury deliberated for 37 hours and 45 minutes before reaching their unanimous verdicts.
The 12 charges Rolf was found guilty of were:
- Count One: A woman said Harris touched her inappropriately when she was just seven or eight while he was signing autographs in Hampshire in the late 1960s
- Count two: Harris was accused of groping a teenage waitress’s bottom at a charity event in Cambridge in the 1970s
- Counts three to nine: A childhood friend of Mr Harris’ daughter said he repeatedly indecently assaulted her between the ages of 13 and 19, including once when his daughter was asleep in the same room. He admitted a relationship with the woman, but said it began after she turned 18
- Counts 10 to 12: Australian woman Tonya Lee, who has waived her right to anonymity, said he fondled her three times on one day while she was on a theatre group trip to the UK at the age of 15.
Three other women also told the court about the indecent assaults Rolf had carried out against them in Australia, New Zealand and Malta. He was not prosecuted over those incidents but the evidence was introduced by the prosecution pattern of his behaviour.
Rolf denied having sexual contact with his daughter’s friend while she was under 16, but said they had consensual sexual contact later. He described himself as a “touchy feely sort of person” and rejected the other women’s claims of sexual assault.
This is a sad day indeed. I grew up with Rolf as a child on TV and thoroughly enjoyed his programs, talent and entertainment factor. To know he molested and abused anyone is tragic. What are your thoughts? Post your comments below.
Photo: Enterprise News and Pictures
Source: BBC
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