Rolf Harris faces court on seven new sex charges

Disgraced children's entertainer Rolf Harris has appeared in court accused of seven more sex attacks - including an assault on a disabled woman.
Rolf Harris has indicated not guilty pleas to all of the charges.Rolf Harris has indicated not guilty pleas to all of the charges.
Rolf Harris has indicated not guilty pleas to all of the charges.

He is also alleged to have molested a girl under the age of 14 at the BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, West London.

The Australian-born artist, 85, is already serving a six-year sentence at Stafford Prison for sex offences against four girls, one aged just seven or eight.

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He appeared via videolink at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court today charged with seven more sex attacks on girls and women spanning four decades and dating back to the early 1970s.

He indicated not guilty pleas to all the charges.

Stephen Vullo QC, Harris's barrister, requested that the full details of the charges Harris faced were not read out in court in front of the "media circus".

But this was firmly rejected by District Judge Quentin Purdy who pointed out it is a public hearing and the charges should be put in full.

Wearing a grey suit, white shirt and the same bright, colourful striped tie he wore when he was sentenced for his earlier offences, Harris rested his hand on a paper cup of water as he sat at a desk in the prison room.

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The elderly artist spoke to say "good afternoon" to the district judge and gave his address as "HMP Stafford".

He said he struggled to hear the court proceedings and lawyers were repeatedly asked to speak up.

The grey-haired prisoner appeared relaxed as he sat with his hands clasped throughout the hearing.

He answered "not guilty" as the charges were put to him one by one.

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The public gallery was packed with reporters from Britain, Australia and New Zealand, with some forced to stand because there were not enough seats.

District Judge Purdy sent the case to London's Southwark Crown Court where Harris will appear on April 14.

The allegations are said to have taken place at locations in London, Portsmouth and Cambridge between 1971 and 2004.