Rolf Harris charged with indecent assault of two children
Rolf Harris has been charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four counts of making indecent images of a child, the Crown Prosecution Service said today.
The Australian entertainer was first arrested in March by officers working on Operation Yewtree, the investigation set up after claims of sex abuse were made against Jimmy Savile, the late television presenter.
Harris, 83, who lives near Bray in Berkshire, is currently on bail and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on September 23.
Six of the counts he is charged with relate to alleged indecent assaults dating from between April 1980 and April 1981, Scotland Yard said, while three relate to alleged indecent assaults dating from between April and June 1986.
They concern two alleged victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time.
The four counts of making indecent images of children date from on or before four dates last year.
Harris was interviewed under caution by police on 29 November 29, 2012 before being arrested on March 28 this year and subsequently bailed to return pending further inquiries.
Alison Saunders, chief Crown prosecutor for CPS London, said: "We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf Harris, who was initially arrested on November 29 2012 over allegations of sexual offences.
“A file of evidence was passed to the CPS on August 12 2013.
"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."
Operation Yewtree has three strands, one relating to Savile’s crimes, one relating to allegations against Savile and others and the third, termed others, concerns allegations unconnected to Savile.
Harris falls into the third category.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10...of-two-children.html
To me, it's scary, because this man
seemed so gentle & innocent. Unlike Saville, there was never anything that made him instinctively unlikable.
As I grow older, I learn to trust fewer & fewer people - just can't seem to take folk at face value.
It's sad.
