Rolf Harris death updates — Paedo who served prison time ‘pushed boundaries’ in front of wife Arwen Hughes
DISGRACED former entertainer and convicted sex offender Rolf Harris has died at the age of 93, it has been confirmed.
Australian-born was a family favourite in the UK for decades before he was convicted of 12 indecent assaults at Southwark Crown Court in June 2014.
These assaults included one on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and a catalogue of abuse against his daughter's friend over 16 years.
Family friend and promoter Chris Brosnan claimed in the ITVX documentary that Harris was consistently "pushing a boundary" in front of his own family.
He said: "In front of Alwen, he’d take a woman’s hand, hold their hand and pull them in closer to them and then he would start kissing them all the way up their arm and he’d get up to their neck and then he'd be kissing their neck."
Read our Rolf Harris death blog below for the latest news...
When was he in prison?
After he was convicted in 2014, he was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.
He was released from prison in May 2017 part-way through a re-trial on four accusations of indecent assault, but has rarely been seen in public.
In November 2017, Harris appeared at the Court of Appeal in London to try and overturn his 2014 convictions, claiming jurors in the case were “poisoned” against him.
He had one conviction overturned following his appeal, but the other 11 remained.
Who was Rolf Harris?
Details of his horrific crimes against children turned him into a despised recluse.
Harris, who famously painted Queen Elizabeth II, was stripped of his CBE and other accolades after his sickening crimes came to light as part of Operation Yewtree.
In 2014 he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison after being found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault against four underage girls.
Harris, who was released on licence nearly three years later, had one count overturned but was refused permission to appeal others by the court.
Harris only spent three years in prison for his crimes
Harris spent nearly three years in prison, split between HMP Bullingdon and Stafford, before his release on licence.
But one letter nearly derailed his bid.
In the note, he claimed his incarceration was “no hardship really” and boasted about being “very well accepted” while enjoying time as an art teacher’s assistant.
Who was Rolf Harris?
Details of his horrific crimes against children turned him into a despised recluse.
Harris, who famously painted Queen Elizabeth II, was stripped of his CBE and other accolades after his sickening crimes came to light as part of Operation Yewtree.
In 2014 he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison after being found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault against four underage girls.
Harris, who was released on licence nearly three years later, had one count overturned but was refused permission to appeal others by the court.
What type of cancer did Rolf Harris have?
Harris had cancer of the neck – specifically metastatic squamous cell carcinoma – before he died.
The disease allegedly left the shamed TV star – who served three years in prison for a string of child sex attacks – “gravely ill”.
In October 2022, private investigator William Merritt, who wrote a book about Harris’ trial, claimed he was being fed by tubes.
He also said Harris gargled when he spoke and was difficult to understand.
Neighbour Portia Wooderson told the Telegraph: “Only carers and nurses, who care for him 24 hours, come and go.
“I’m told he can’t eat anymore.”
Rolf Harris’ cause of death revealed
Rolf Harris’ cause of death has been revealed.
The shamed TV star died of cancer and old age at his home on May 10.
Harris – who served three years in prison for a string of child sex attacks – “has now been laid to rest”, his family said in a statement.
Vanessa Feltz reveals Rolf Harris groped her on live TV
Venessa Feltz has revealed the sick Rolf Harris groped her over twenty years ago.
The TalkTV presenter says the sex attacker assaulted her during an interview in 1996.
This comes as the twisted abuser’s death was confirmed on Tuesday.
Speaking on her TalkTV Drivetime show, Vanessa showed a chilling picture of her and Rolf on the set of The Big Breakfast.
Vanessa explained: “If you look at the picture, you will see that I’m wearing a full-length beaded gown. I was always in full evening dress in the morning on the bed.
“This was the whole idea of it and the noise was my dress being crunched between Rolf’s fingers as he started at my ankles and began to bring the dress further and further and further up my legs.
And you can actually see in one of the pictures me, taking a blue cushion and putting it between us to try to make some space between me and him. And he completely ignored it.
“And so I’m live on television and anybody who doesn’t remember The Big Breakfast? Let me tell you what it was like. Jolly, lots of children watched it.
“Very positive, very, very innocent, very fun show, and I can feel my dress coming further and further and further and further up my thighs, past my knees, past my knees up to my thighs.”
What instrument did Rolf Harris invent?
During his life, Sick abuser Harris invented the wobble board by chance in 1959.
It is a musical instrument that is featured in his best-known song Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.
It is made from hardboard, and was sold commercially by Harris in the 1970s.
Rolf Harris has ALREADY been secretly cremated
Harris’ death certificate has revealed the disgraced entertainer has already been secretly cremated and buried after he died of cancer.
The shamed TV star– who served three years in prison for a string of child sex attacks – died at his home aged 93.
His former PA Lisa Ratcliff registered his death today at Maidenhead Town Hall.
Final snaps of twisted abuser show he could not walk before death
The final images of Rolf Harris show the infamous paedo was unable to walk before his passing.
The sicko, 93, wasn’t able to walk or eat in his final days as he battled neck cancer at home in Berkshire.
Harris spent just three years in prison for his crimes and was quietly cremated following his death.
When was Rolf Harris in prison?
On July 4, 2014, Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.
He served only three years in prison and was released on May 19, 2017
He was released while a re-trial was happening on four accusations of indecent assault.
He served his time at HM Prison Stafford.
He was rarely seen in public after his release from prison up until his death on May 10, 2023.
In November 2017, Harris appeared at the Court of Appeal in London to try and overturn his 2014 convictions, claiming jurors in the case were “poisoned” against him.
He had one conviction overturned following his appeal, but the other 11 remained intact.
Rolf Harris was spotted near a school in 2019
Disgraced paedo Rolf Harris was reportedly outside a school in 2019.
Following his prison release, Harris stayed out of the limelight.
However, in 2019 he was reportedly seen talking to a sculptor outside Oldfield Primary School and waving at children in a classroom.
A witness, who did not want to be named, told : “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
Harris was asked to leave by the school’s headteacher, who explained he did not come into contact with any of the children.
Rolf Harris’ death kept secret by family for almost two weeks
The family of twisted sex offender Rolf Harris kept his death a secret for almost two weeks in a bid to make sure he could have a funeral.
Harris died in his Berkshire home on May 10, but his death was not announced until May 23.
Prior to the announcement, Harris had already been laid to rest and cremated.
What nationality was Rolf Harris?
Harris was born on March 30, 1930, in Perth, Western Australia.
His parents both emigrated from Cardiff, Wales.
At 22 years old he moved to England in 1952 and became an art student at City and Guilds of London Art School.
He then went on to gain fame through his television appearances and eventually went on to host various programs.
What was Rolf Harris' net worth?
Rolf's criminal convictions and the associated controversy significantly impacted his public image and career.
He was jailed for five years and nine months after being convicted of sexual assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986.
His paintings dropped in value after his conviction and the guide price for his art is said to have decreased by more than half its previous value.
Before his unmasking as a paedophile, his original paintings fetched up to £30,000.
The disgraced entertainer had a net worth of $19 million (around £15.3 million).
Family releases statement
His family confirmed on Tuesday that the disgraced entertainer had died aged 93.
A statement from the family of Rolf Harris released by their solicitors said: “This is to confirm that Rolf Harris recently died peacefully surrounded by family and friends and has now been laid to rest.
“They ask that you respect their privacy. No further comment will be made.”
Harris painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth
The convicted sex offender – who coined the catchphrase “Can you tell what it is yet?” as he drew artwork on his shows – was so popular that the BBC commissioned him to paint a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 2005.
But his fame turned to infamy in 2013 when he was arrested twice in connection with attacks on children dating back to the 1980s.
He was also charged with four counts of producing indecent child images.
In June 2014, Harris was convicted of 12 counts of indecent assault.
What was Rolf Harris’ net worth?
Rolf’s criminal convictions and the associated controversy significantly impacted his public image and career.
He was jailed for five years and nine months after being convicted of sexual assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986.
His paintings dropped in value after his conviction and the guide price for his art is said to have decreased by more than half its previous value.
Before his unmasking as a paedophile, his original paintings fetched up to £30,000.
The disgraced entertainer had a net worth of $19 million (around £15.3 million).
Rolf Harris' death kept secret by family for almost two weeks
The family of twisted sex offender Rolf Harris kept his death a secret for almost two weeks in a bid to make sure he could have a funeral.
Harris died in his Berkshire home on May 10, but his death was not announced until May 23.
Prior to the announcement, Harris had already been laid to rest and cremated.
Rolf Harris was spotted near a school in 2019
Disgraced paedo Rolf Harris was reportedly outside a school in 2019.
Following his prison release, Harris stayed out of the limelight.
However, in 2019 he was reportedly seen talking to a sculptor outside Oldfield Primary School and waving at children in a classroom.
A witness, who did not want to be named, told : “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
Harris was asked to leave by the school’s headteacher, who explained he did not come into contact with any of the children.
When was Rolf Harris in prison?
On July 4, 2014, Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment.
He served only three years in prison and was released on May 19, 2017
He was released while a re-trial was happening on four accusations of indecent assault.
He served his time at HM Prison Stafford.
He was rarely seen in public after his release from prison up until his death on May 10, 2023.
In November 2017, Harris appeared at the Court of Appeal in London to try and overturn his 2014 convictions, claiming jurors in the case were "poisoned" against him.
He had one conviction overturned following his appeal, but the other 11 remained intact.
Final snaps of twisted abuser show he could not walk before death
The final images of Rolf Harris show the infamous paedo was unable to walk before his passing.
The sicko, 93, wasn't able to walk or eat in his final days as he battled neck cancer at home in Berkshire.
Harris spent just three years in prison for his crimes and was quietly cremated following his death.
Rolf Harris has ALREADY been secretly cremated
Harris’ death certificate has revealed the disgraced entertainer has already been secretly cremated and buried after he died of cancer.
The shamed TV star– who served three years in prison for a string of child sex attacks – died at his home aged 93.
His former PA Lisa Ratcliff registered his death today at Maidenhead Town Hall.
What instrument did Rolf Harris invent?
During his life, Sick abuser Harris invented the wobble board by chance in 1959.
It is a musical instrument that is featured in his best-known song Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport.
It is made from hardboard, and was sold commercially by Harris in the 1970s.
Vanessa Feltz reveals Rolf Harris groped her on live TV
Venessa Feltz has revealed the sick Rolf Harris groped her over twenty years ago.
The TalkTV presenter says the sex attacker assaulted her during an interview in 1996.
This comes as the twisted abuser's death was confirmed yesterday.
Speaking on her TalkTV Drivetime show today, Vanessa showed a chilling picture of her and Rolf on the set of The Big Breakfast.
Vanessa explained: “If you look at the picture, you will see that I’m wearing a full-length beaded gown. I was always in full evening dress in the morning on the bed.
"This was the whole idea of it and the noise was my dress being crunched between Rolf’s fingers as he started at my ankles and began to bring the dress further and further and further up my legs.
And you can actually see in one of the pictures me, taking a blue cushion and putting it between us to try to make some space between me and him. And he completely ignored it.
“And so I’m live on television and anybody who doesn't remember The Big Breakfast? Let me tell you what it was like. Jolly, lots of children watched it.
"Very positive, very, very innocent, very fun show, and I can feel my dress coming further and further and further and further up my thighs, past my knees, past my knees up to my thighs.”