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VETERAN entertainer Rolf Harris was last night formally charged with nine counts of indecent assault against two girls in the 1980s and four of making indecent images of children nearly eight months after being initially questioned by Scotland Yard.
The 83-year-old, who is well known throughout Britain, having painted a portrait of the Queen and hosted high-rating children's television shows, will now appear before Westminster Court on September 23 to face the 13 charges. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.
The charges relate to six counts of indecent assault of a girl aged 15 or 16 between April 1980 and April 1981 and three relate to a girl aged 14 between April and June 1986.
The indecent images of children were alleged to have been made from March to July last year.
Earlier this year, Australian woman Tonya Lee alleged she was sexually assaulted by Harris in 1986 when she visited Britain as a teenager. However, it is not known whether Ms Lee's allegations relate to the charges laid last night.
Harris was arrested last November by officers from Operation Yewtree five days after a search warrant was executed at his Berkshire home.
Operation Yewtree was established to investigate allegations of sex crimes and child abuse by the late DJ Jimmy Savile and other broadcasting celebrities up to 50 years ago.
Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, which was referred the matter just weeks ago, said its decision to charge Harris was "in the public interest".
Chief crown prosecutor Alison Saunders said: "We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf 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."
The increasingly frail Harris has been painting and building a new shed at his Bray home in Berkshire outside London since first being questioned by Scotland Yard.
He has made two public appearances of his popular variety stage show in that time, telling the audiences that he greatly appreciated their unfailing support.
Harris was awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006\. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list last year.
Fourteen people have been arrested under Operation Yewtree.
Harris, DJ Dave Lee Travis, public relations guru Max Clifford and former BBC chauffeur David Smith are the only ones to have been charged with sex offences.
Other high-profile personalities who have been arrested include Freddie Starr and Gary Glitter.
Comedian Jim Davidson was recently told he would face no further action and was released following his arrest.
VETERAN entertainer Rolf Harris was last night formally charged with nine counts of indecent assault against two girls in the 1980s and four of making indecent images of children nearly eight months after being initially questioned by Scotland Yard.
The 83-year-old, who is well known throughout Britain, having painted a portrait of the Queen and hosted high-rating children's television shows, will now appear before Westminster Court on September 23 to face the 13 charges. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.
The charges relate to six counts of indecent assault of a girl aged 15 or 16 between April 1980 and April 1981 and three relate to a girl aged 14 between April and June 1986.
The indecent images of children were alleged to have been made from March to July last year.
Earlier this year, Australian woman Tonya Lee alleged she was sexually assaulted by Harris in 1986 when she visited Britain as a teenager. However, it is not known whether Ms Lee's allegations relate to the charges laid last night.
Harris was arrested last November by officers from Operation Yewtree five days after a search warrant was executed at his Berkshire home.
Operation Yewtree was established to investigate allegations of sex crimes and child abuse by the late DJ Jimmy Savile and other broadcasting celebrities up to 50 years ago.
Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, which was referred the matter just weeks ago, said its decision to charge Harris was "in the public interest".
Chief crown prosecutor Alison Saunders said: "We have carefully considered the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police Service as part of Operation Yewtree in relation to Rolf 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."
The increasingly frail Harris has been painting and building a new shed at his Bray home in Berkshire outside London since first being questioned by Scotland Yard.
He has made two public appearances of his popular variety stage show in that time, telling the audiences that he greatly appreciated their unfailing support.
Harris was awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006\. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours list last year.
Fourteen people have been arrested under Operation Yewtree.
Harris, DJ Dave Lee Travis, public relations guru Max Clifford and former BBC chauffeur David Smith are the only ones to have been charged with sex offences.
Other high-profile personalities who have been arrested include Freddie Starr and Gary Glitter.
Comedian Jim Davidson was recently told he would face no further action and was released following his arrest.
