Australian musical icon Rolf Harris has been charged in the UK overnight with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of children.
The BBC reports that the 83-year-old has been charged with six offenses relating to the indecent assault of a girl aged 15-16 between 1980 and 1981, as well as three relating to a girl aged 14 in 1986, while the indecent images of children were alleged to have been made between March and July 2012.
Chief Crown prosecutor for London Alison Saunders said there was a realistic prospect of conviction for Harris:
“Having completed our review, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Mr Harris to be charged with nine counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent images of a child.
Harris first came to the attention of police as part of Operation Yewtree, a police investigation into late British media personality Jimmy Savile that uncovered other abuse allegations against other media personalities. The Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport performer was first interviewed under caution by police in November 2012, before being arrested and subsequently bailed in March this year, then re-arrested earlier this month.
Harris, who is yet to release a statement regarding the charges, is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 23rd September.
(via BBC News)
