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| Rolf Harris in court over assault charges | Rolf Harris in court over assault charges |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Entertainer Rolf Harris has appeared in court charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of children. | Entertainer Rolf Harris has appeared in court charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of children. |
| During the brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the 83-year-old spoke only to answer personal details. | During the brief hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the 83-year-old spoke only to answer personal details. |
| He was bailed and his case was referred to Southwark Crown Court where he is due to appear on 7 October. | He was bailed and his case was referred to Southwark Crown Court where he is due to appear on 7 October. |
| Mr Harris was first arrested in March by police investigating historical allegations of child sexual abuse. | Mr Harris was first arrested in March by police investigating historical allegations of child sexual abuse. |
| The artist, of Bray, Berkshire, was accompanied to court by his wife Alwen. | The artist, of Bray, Berkshire, was accompanied to court by his wife Alwen. |
| He spoke only to say his name, address and date of birth. | He spoke only to say his name, address and date of birth. |
| Six charges relate to the alleged indecent assault of a girl aged 15-16 between 1980 and 1981 and three relate to a girl aged 14 in 1986. | Six charges relate to the alleged indecent assault of a girl aged 15-16 between 1980 and 1981 and three relate to a girl aged 14 in 1986. |
| The indecent images of children were alleged to have been made last year. | The indecent images of children were alleged to have been made last year. |
| Mr Harris was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, which was set up in the wake of allegations against the former BBC Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile. | Mr Harris was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, which was set up in the wake of allegations against the former BBC Radio 1 DJ and TV presenter Jimmy Savile. |
| Operation Yewtree has three strands - one is looking specifically at the actions of Savile, while the second strand concerns allegations against "Savile and others". | Operation Yewtree has three strands - one is looking specifically at the actions of Savile, while the second strand concerns allegations against "Savile and others". |
| Mr Harris was arrested as part of the third strand, which relates to alleged complaints against other people unconnected to the Savile investigation. | Mr Harris was arrested as part of the third strand, which relates to alleged complaints against other people unconnected to the Savile investigation. |
| Sonia Woodley QC, representing Mr Harris, indicated to the court that he would be pleading not guilty. | Sonia Woodley QC, representing Mr Harris, indicated to the court that he would be pleading not guilty. |
| Mr Harris has been a fixture on British TV screens for more than 40 years, having arrived in the UK from his native Australia in 1952. | Mr Harris has been a fixture on British TV screens for more than 40 years, having arrived in the UK from his native Australia in 1952. |
| He has been honoured in the UK three times, first as a Member of the British Empire in 1968 (MBE), then an OBE in 1977 and in 2006 he was advanced to a CBE. | He has been honoured in the UK three times, first as a Member of the British Empire in 1968 (MBE), then an OBE in 1977 and in 2006 he was advanced to a CBE. |
| In June 2012 he was awarded one of Australia's highest honours when he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's birthday list. |