Rolf Harris facing child sex charges in UK

Veteran Australian performer Rolf Harris AO CBE has been charged with thirteen offences after he was arrested as a part of Operation Yewtree.

Harris has been charged with six indecent assaults against two teenagers between 1980-6 and four counts of making indecent images of a child in 2012.

The charges he is facing are:

• Six charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years between 5 April 1980 and 4 April 1981.
• Three charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years between 28 April and 7 June 1986.
• Making indecent images of children on or before 16 March 2012.
• Making indecent images of children on or before 25 May 2012.
• Making indecent images of children on or before 11 June 2012.
• Making indecent images of children on or before 18 July 2012.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said that they have enough evidence to charge Harris:

Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child. The alleged indecent assaults date from 1980 to 1986 and relate to two complainants aged 14 and 15 at the time of the alleged offending.

We have determined that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.

Harris has a lifelong career as an entertainer with a list of  hits including “Two Little Boys” and “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” and hosting the television shows Animal Hospital and Rolf’s Animal Clinic, but was replaced as host of the latter following his arrest.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1968 and a a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989, both of which have been advanced.

Harris is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on 23rd September.

Source: ITV, Reuters