Rolf Harris convicted of indecent assault in Britain

Yahoo – AFP, 30 June 2014

Veteran Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark

Crown Court in central London, on June 27, 2014 (AFP Photo/Justin Tallis)

Veteran Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court in central London, on June 27, 2014

London (AFP) - Veteran entertainer Rolf Harris was warned he could face jail after being found guilty of all 12 counts of indecently assaulting girls and young women by a London court Monday.

Australian-born Harris, 84 -- an artist, TV presenter and performer of songs like "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" -- was convicted at Southwark Crown Court after a six-week trial.

He was released on bail until Friday when he will be sentenced. Judge Nigel Sweeney warned him that it was "inevitable" that he could face a jail term.

Prosecutors claimed the star was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who had a dark side to his personality and used his fame to abuse under-age girls with impunity.

He had denied 12 counts of indecent assault against four female complainants, aged from seven or eight to 19, between 1968 and 1986.

Before his conviction, Harris was seen as a national treasure in Britain, painting public figures including Queen Elizabeth II and appearing on a range of BBC shows.

Veteran Australian artist and entertainer Rolf Harris arrives with his wife Alwen

 Hughes (R) and daughter Bindi (L) at Southwark Crown Court in central London

on June 30, 2014 (AFP Photo/Niklas Halle'en)

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