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Rolf Harris trial: Make-up artist branded TV star 'octopus' | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Entertainer Rolf Harris was branded "the octopus" after repeatedly groping a TV make-up artist, a court has heard. | |
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Southwark Crown Court there were more than two dozen such assaults during the day. | |
Earlier, another witness denied making up claims she was groped by Mr Harris, of Berkshire, in a pub when she was 15. | |
The star, 84, denies 12 historic indecent assault charges related to four girls aged seven or eight to 19. | |
The incidents are alleged to have taken place between 1968 and 1986. | |
The former TV makeup artist, who gave evidence from behind a screen, said Mr Harris was known as the octopus because "it was all hands". | |
The entertainer repeatedly put his hands inside the freelancer's baggy denim shorts as far as her hips while making a programme in Australia in 1986, she told jurors. | |
'Not a robot' | |
Southwark Crown Court heard that on one occasion while groping her that day, Harris even discussed her legs with the programme's male director, who was standing next to them. | |
She told the jury she later complained to her female supervisor: "That dirty old man groped me all day." | |
The woman, who was in her 20s at the time, is providing evidence in support of the prosecution case. However, none of the charges relate to her. | |
Three of the 12 counts relate to Tonya Lee, 43, from Australia, who says she was in London on a theatre trip in 1986. | |
Miss Lee, who has waived her right to anonymity, had previously told the court Mr Harris had assaulted her at the start of her group's six-week visit to the UK. | |
However, on Wednesday, she admitted she got the date of one of the alleged assaults wrong. | |
An itinerary of the tour produced by Sonia Woodley QC, for the defence, said there would be a "celebratory meal with Rolf Harris" in a public house in Greenwich at the end of their tour. | An itinerary of the tour produced by Sonia Woodley QC, for the defence, said there would be a "celebratory meal with Rolf Harris" in a public house in Greenwich at the end of their tour. |
Miss Lee told the court she was "not a robot" with a head for dates but she had "no doubt" the assault took place, in a pub in Greenwich, south-east London. | |
"There is no doubt in my mind what occurred to me," she said. | |
"Both assaults are very clear in my mind. I got the dates wrong, I admit to that." | "Both assaults are very clear in my mind. I got the dates wrong, I admit to that." |
'Blood money' | |
Miss Lee also dismissed prosecution claims that she had made up the story because she was motivated by money. | Miss Lee also dismissed prosecution claims that she had made up the story because she was motivated by money. |
The court was told she had made a £33,000-deal with a Sydney publicity agent to give interviews to an Australian TV station and a magazine. | The court was told she had made a £33,000-deal with a Sydney publicity agent to give interviews to an Australian TV station and a magazine. |
The jurors were also shown a newspaper article in which Miss Lee complained that not all of the money due to her had been paid. | The jurors were also shown a newspaper article in which Miss Lee complained that not all of the money due to her had been paid. |
She added: "That was blood money. That's not money for frivolity or fun." | She added: "That was blood money. That's not money for frivolity or fun." |
Wednesday's second witness, a former partner of Mr Harris's daughter, said he was told by one of the complainants that the entertainer had an under-age sexual relationship with her. | |
Malcolm Cox said the woman, a friend of Bindi Harris, was visiting the Harris family home in Bray, Berkshire, in 1996 or 1997 when she told him there had been a sexual relationship between Mr Harris and her, and it had occurred before the age of 16. | Malcolm Cox said the woman, a friend of Bindi Harris, was visiting the Harris family home in Bray, Berkshire, in 1996 or 1997 when she told him there had been a sexual relationship between Mr Harris and her, and it had occurred before the age of 16. |
He said: "The gist was, in my opinion, that someone had been abused." | He said: "The gist was, in my opinion, that someone had been abused." |