Author: David Knox
Publish date: 2023-05-23 14:55:21
tvtonight.com.au
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Disgraced former entertainer Rolf Harris, convicted of the sexual assault of four underage girls, has died aged 93.
But while the information was first publicly revealed on Tuesday, his death certificate shows he died on May 10 of neck cancer.
Harris was found guilty of a string of indecent assaults between 1968 and 1986 following a trial in 2014 – and was jailed for five years and nine months.
One conviction, relating to an allegation he indecently assaulted an eight-year-old girl, was later overturned. But Court of Appeal judges dismissed his application to challenge the other 11 convictions.
The victims included two girls in their early teens and a friend of his daughter.
He was released from prison in 2017 – but never apologised to his victims.
Before his crimes came to light, Harris had been a fixture of family entertainment for more than 50 years in the UK and Australia.
The WA-born performer sang Australiana songs, introducing a “wobble board” for “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”, plus hits “Jake the Peg”, and “Two Little Boys”.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he became a successful television personality later presenting shows such as The Rolf Harris Show, Rolf’s Cartoon Club and Animal Hospital. In Australia he hosted Rolf’s Walkabout, performed at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and featured on radio show, Australia’s Amateur Hour, amongst others credits.
In 2006 Harris painted a portrait of the late Queen to mark her 80th birthday.
During his career he was made an OBE, MBE and CBE and awarded a BAFTA fellowship, but he was stripped of the honours following his convictions.
Source: BBC
Updated.
Author: David Knox
Publish date: 2023-05-23 14:55:21
tvtonight.com.au
Read all