Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris, the once-celebrated Australian entertainer and television personality, was exposed as a prolific sex offender following a high-profile trial that shattered his public image. In July 2014, Harris was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of twelve counts of indecent assault involving four female victims, all of whom were young girls at the time of the offences. The assaults spanned nearly two decades, from 1968 to 1986, and included incidents that took place both in public settings and within the privacy of Harris's family home in Berkshire.

The prosecution detailed how Harris abused his position of fame and trust to target vulnerable young girls. One particularly harrowing account involved the sexual assault of a friend of Harris's daughter, Bindi, who was aged between 13 and 19 at the time. Harris performed a sexual act on the girl while she was in his home, with his daughter asleep in another room. Other victims described assaults that occurred during interactions with the entertainer, exploiting his celebrity status as a children's TV host and musician. Harris, who had risen to prominence in the UK through BBC shows like Jigsaw and his hit song 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport', used his approachable persona to groom and assault his victims.

The trial, part of the broader Operation Yewtree investigation into historical sexual abuse by celebrities, revealed the extent of Harris's predatory behaviour. He was sentenced on 4 July 2014 to a total of five years and nine months' imprisonment. Judge Nigel Peters described Harris as a 'predatory and powerful man' who had shown no remorse. The sentencing came after Harris was arrested in 2013, following allegations that had been building amid the Jimmy Savile scandal. Despite appeals, his conviction stood, and he served part of his sentence before being released in 2017.

• Harris's crimes were committed between 1968 and 1986, targeting girls as young as seven in some cases.
• The court heard evidence from four victims, with assaults ranging from groping to more severe indecent acts.
• A source from The Mirror noted family activities post-conviction, but the focus remained on the legal repercussions.

Following his release, Harris lived out his final years in his Berkshire mansion until his death from neck cancer on 10 May 2023 at the age of 93. The property, modelled after his childhood home in Perth, Australia, was recently listed for sale at £4 million by his daughter Bindi. Neighbours had reportedly sought to sell their homes upon his return from prison in 2017, citing discomfort with his presence in the community. Harris's niece, Jennifer, who supported him through the trials, is set to receive £1.2 million from the liquidation of his company, RHE Investments, as reported in April 2025 filings. This case remains a stark reminder of the hidden abuses enabled by celebrity power, with victims' testimonies providing crucial evidence that led to his downfall, as covered extensively by Daily Mail and other outlets.