Confirmed reports have revealed that Rolf Harris, the disgraced former entertainer who was convicted for a series of indecent assaults on young girls, has passed away at the age of 93. Harris was found guilty in 2014 of multiple indecent assaults that occurred between 1968 and 1986. As a result, he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
Although he was released from prison in 2017, Harris never issued an apology to his victims. Prior to the exposure of his crimes, Harris had enjoyed a prominent presence in the realm of family entertainment in Britain.
A registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall confirmed his death to the PA news agency. The cause of death is currently unknown.
Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, Harris was initially convicted of 12 assaults against four girls, mainly during the 1970s and 1980s. One of the convictions, related to an allegation of indecent assault on an eight-year-old girl, was later overturned. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed his application to challenge the remaining 11 convictions.
His victims included two young teenage girls and a friend of his daughter.
Before his crimes came to light, Harris had enjoyed a long and established career in the entertainment industry in both Britain and his native Australia. He arrived in London in 1952 at the age of 21 and went on to host numerous children’s TV shows, variety programs, and series focusing on animals and art. Notably, Harris painted a portrait of the late Queen to commemorate her 80th birthday in 2006.
Throughout his career, he received several honors, including an OBE, MBE, and CBE, and was awarded a Bafta fellowship. However, these honors were revoked following his convictions.
During his sentencing, the court referred to him as a “sinister pervert” who had exploited his fame to gain access to young women and girls. The judge criticized Harris for his lack of remorse and informed him that his reputation was in ruins due to his own actions.
Harris served three years of his sentence at Stafford Prison in Staffordshire. After his release, he returned to his home in Bray, Berkshire, where he resided with his wife, Alwen, whom he had married in 1958. The couple had a daughter named Bindi.
