Rolf Harris: Serial abuser and former entertainer dies at 93

Disgraced former entertainer Rolf Harris, who was jailed for a series of indecent assaults on girls, has died aged 93.

Harris was found guilty of a series of indecent assaults between 1968 and 1986 following a 2014 trial – and was jailed for five years and nine months.

He was released from prison in 2017 – but never apologized to his victims.

Before his crimes came to light, Harris was a fixture of family entertainment in Britain.

His death was confirmed to PA News by a registrar at Maidenhead Town Hall.

According to his death certificate, he died May 10 at his home in Berkshire of neck cancer and “the infirmities of old age.”

His family later released a statement: “This is to confirm that Rolf Harris has recently passed away 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.”

Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, Harris was initially found guilty of 12 attacks on four girls, mainly in the 1970s and 1980s.

A conviction related to a charge of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl was later overturned. But appeal court judges dismissed his appeal against 11 other convictions.

The victims included two teenage girls and her daughter’s friend.

Before his crimes came to light, Harris was a well-known figure in the entertainment industry in Britain and his native Australia for more than 50 years.

He arrived in London in 1952 at the age of 21, and hosted children’s television and variety shows as well as series about animals and art. Harris painted the portrait of the late Queen to mark her 80th birthday in 2006.

“You have shown no remorse for your crimes,” the judge told him. “Your reputation is now in ruins, but you have no one to blame but yourself.”

Harris served three years in Stafford Prison, Staffordshire. After his release, he returned to the home in Bray, Berkshire, which he shared with his wife Alwen – whom he married in 1958.

The couple had a daughter Bindi.