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Rolf Harris treated young girls as sexual objects to be mauled, court told Rolf Harris treated young girls as sexual objects to be mauled, court told
(35 minutes later)
Peter Walker
Rolf Harris is an arrogant and blatant serial molester who treated women and girls as "sexual objects to be groped and mauled when he felt like it", a court has been told.Rolf Harris is an arrogant and blatant serial molester who treated women and girls as "sexual objects to be groped and mauled when he felt like it", a court has been told.
Making her closing speech to the jury at Southwark crown court, Sasha Wass QC, prosecuting, portrayed the 84-year-old entertainer as a man who for decades "believed he was untouchable" and used his celebrity and public charm as a front for repeated assaults. Making her closing speech to the jury at Southwark crown court in London, Sasha Wass QC, prosecuting, portrayed the 84-year-old entertainer as a man who for decades believed he was untouchable and used his celebrity and public charm as a front for repeated assaults.
Wass called Harris "a sinister pervert who had a demon lurking beneath the charming exterior".Wass called Harris "a sinister pervert who had a demon lurking beneath the charming exterior".
She said: "The girls who Mr Harris touched were innocent, young, admiring fans of his. He targeted fans who were mesmerised by his fame and talents. He was a children's entertainer and they were beguiled by his singing and painting. And the penalty of their admiration was to suffer sexual assault." She added: "The girls who Mr Harris touched were innocent, young, admiring fans of his. He targeted fans who were mesmerised by his fame and talents. He was a children's entertainer and they were beguiled by his singing and painting. And the penalty of their admiration was to suffer sexual assault."
Wass began by describing the evidence of six so-called bad character witnesses, who allege they were indecently assaulted by the entertainer but whose claims are not part of the formal counts against him.Wass began by describing the evidence of six so-called bad character witnesses, who allege they were indecently assaulted by the entertainer but whose claims are not part of the formal counts against him.
While the allegations spanned several countries and two decades, and involved a disparate group of "young, vulnerable and impressionable" women and girls, their claims nonetheless had remarkable similarities, Wass told the jury. While the allegations spanned several countries and two decades, and involved a disparate group of "young, vulnerable and impressionable" women and girls, Wass said, their claims nonetheless had remarkable similarities.
"Each woman, unknown to the others, describes a similar pattern of deviant sexual behaviour," she said. "The chances of any of them making up such similar accusations in the absence of knowing each other is absurd." "Each woman, unknown to the others, describes a similar pattern of deviant sexual behaviour," she said. "The chances of any of them making up such similar accusations in the absence of knowing each other is absurd.
Wass added: "The prosecution says none of the victims has any motive for a false account. Their evidence is compelling and you can have no doubt they are telling the truth." "The prosecution says none of the victims has any motive for a false account. Their evidence is compelling and you can have no doubt they are telling the truth."
She urged the jury to reject the idea that a spate of recent prosecutions in the wake of revelations about Jimmy Savile amounted to a "celebrity witchhunt", or that events from the 1960s or 1970s should be judged in a different cultural context, saying: "It has never been acceptable for an older man in a position of power and responsibility over children to molest them." The prosecutor urged the jury to reject the idea that a spate of recent prosecutions after revelations about Jimmy Savile amounted to a "celebrity witchhunt", or that events from the 1960s or 1970s should be judged in a different cultural context, saying: "It has never been acceptable for an older man in a position of power and responsibility over children to molest them."
She added: "Neither Mr Harris's fame, wealth, age or talent can provide any excuse for his behaviour."She added: "Neither Mr Harris's fame, wealth, age or talent can provide any excuse for his behaviour."
Wass said Harris had provided the court with a series of "smokescreens" to defend himself. Referring to an alleged incident in which he groped an Australian makeup artist, Wass said Harris's claim that her testimony must be wrong as he was allergic to face powder was not backed up by any medical evidence. Wass said Harris had provided the court with a series of "smokescreens" to defend himself. Referring to an alleged incident in which he groped an Australian makeup artist, Wass said his claim that her testimony must be wrong because he was allergic to face powder was not backed up by any medical evidence.
"This is the first of several bizarre diversions Mr Harris has thrown in to the pot," she said. "This is the first of several bizarre diversions Mr Harris has thrown in to the pot," Wass said.
Describing another alleged incident in which, the court was told, Harris groped a 15-year-old girl and her mother during a public appearance, telling the mother the girl had "liked" being touched, Wass said such behaviour "demonstrates Mr Harris's complete and utter arrogance". She added: "He knew he couldn't be challenged and he knew that if he was challenged no one would believe their word over his." Describing another alleged incident in which the court was told that Harris groped a 15-year-old girl and her mother during a public appearance, telling the mother the girl had "liked" being touched, Wass said such behaviour "demonstrates Mr Harris's complete and utter arrogance". She added: "He knew he couldn't be challenged and he knew that if he was challenged no one would believe their word over his."
The defence sought to show Harris as a man of good character, Wass said, but the witnesses told a different story: "The evidence paints a picture of a man who believed he was untouchable because he was so famous. It paints a picture of a man who was arrogant and brazen and treated women and young girls as sexual objects to be groped and mauled as he felt like it." The defence sought to show Harris as a man of good character, the prosecutor said, but the witnesses told a different story: "The evidence paints a picture of a man who believed he was untouchable because he was so famous. It paints a picture of a man who was arrogant and brazen and treated women and young girls as sexual objects to be groped and mauled as he felt like it."
Wass then began taking the jury through the 12 indecent assault charges faced by Harris, including that he groped a teenage girl working at a celebrity event in Cambridge in the 1970s. Harris had, she said, been adamant in evidence he had never even been to the city until many years later: "He could not have been more confident, and he could not have been more arrogant." Wass then began taking the jury through the 12 indecent assault charges faced by Harris, including the allegations he groped a teenage girl working at a celebrity event in Cambridge in the 1970s. Harris had, she said, been adamant in evidence he had never even been to the city until many years later: "He could not have been more confident, and he could not have been more arrogant."
This was undermined when video footage emerged of Harris, in 1978, taking part in an episode of an ITV programme, Star Games, filmed in Cambridge. The Australian-born star began "ducking and diving" with his story, Wass told the jury, first saying he did not know at the time where he was and then claiming to remember nothing. "By this stage you might have thought that Mr Harris's quibbling was wearing a bit thin," she said. This was undermined when video footage emerged of Harris, in 1978, taking part in an episode of an ITV programme, Star Games, filmed in Cambridge. The Australian-born star began "ducking and diving" with his story, first saying he did not know at the time where he was and then claiming to remember nothing, Wass told the jury. "By this stage you might have thought that Mr Harris's quibbling was wearing a bit thin."
Wass asked the jury to consider the evidence of a woman, formerly the childhood best friend of Harris's daughter, Bindi, who says she was abused by him from the age of 13. She said: "She was targeted, groomed and dehumanised by Mr Harris over a period of 16 years. Her life was affected dramatically by what he did to her." Wass asked the jurors to consider the evidence of a woman, formerly the childhood best friend of Harris's daughter, Bindi, who says she was abused by him from 13. The prosecutor said: "She was targeted, groomed and dehumanised by Mr Harris over a period of 16 years. Her life was affected dramatically by what he did to her."
After the girl did not speak out following the first alleged assault, Wass said, Harris continued to touch her, even when his family were nearby:After the girl did not speak out following the first alleged assault, Wass said, Harris continued to touch her, even when his family were nearby:
"This is exactly what grooming is. Mr Harris knew he was safe.He could touch her right under the nose of others." "This is exactly what grooming is. Mr Harris knew he was safe. He could touch her right under the nose of others."
Harris, 84, from Bray in Berkshire, denies 12 counts of indecent assault.Harris, 84, from Bray in Berkshire, denies 12 counts of indecent assault.
The trial continues.The trial continues.