Rolf Harris Controversy: Was He In Jail Before Death?

May 2024 · 4 minute read

His can be described as a fall from grace. He has had an interesting career in entertainment as he was an entertainer, musician, singer-songwriter, composer, comedian, actor, painter, and television personality. On the occasion of his death, people have had to visit the Rolf Harris controversy that led to him being convicted of some crimes.

So was Rolf Harris in jail before his death?

In this article, we revisit the Rolf Harris controversy to see how things turned out that led to his fall from grace as he got disgraced for his untoward actions.

But what do you know about Rolf Harris? Who was he?

READ ALSO: Rolf Harris religion, ethnicity, nationality

Who Was Rolf Harris?

Rolf Harris was an Australian entertainer, musician, singer-songwriter, composer, comedian, actor, painter, and television personality who lived from 30 March 1930 to 10 May 23.

He played the didgeridoo and the stylophone throughout his concerts and is credited with creating the wobble board.

He frequently employed strange instruments.

In 2014, Harris was found guilty in England of sexually assaulting four minors, ultimately ending his career.

In the 1950s, Harris began his career in television, music, and art.

He released a variety of songs, including “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport,” “Jake the Peg,” and his recording of “Two Little Boys,” which peaked at number one in the UK.

Harris rose to fame as a television personality in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s, going on to host programs including Rolf’s Cartoon Club and Animal Hospital.

In 1985, he served as the host of the instructional short Kids Can Say No!, which instructed kids between the ages of five and eight on how to avoid potentially harmful situations, how to get out of them, and how to obtain help if they are harmed.

When did the Rolf Harris controversy set in, and what happened to him?

We will find out.

Queen Elizabeth II’s official portrait was painted by Harris in 2005.

He spent more than six decades making Bray, Berkshire, England, his home.

READ ALSO: Rolf Harris illness, what health condition was he suffering from?

Death

According to a report from October 2022, Harris had neck cancer, was unable to speak, and had a feeding tube. He also needed attention around the clock.

At the age of 93, Harris passed away at his Bray home on May 10, 2023.

His passing wasn’t made public until May 23, when representatives from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s register office reported it to the media.

Neck cancer and “frailty of old age” were listed as the causes of death on his death certificate.

Was He In Jail Before His Death: Rolf Harris Controversy

The Rolf Harris controversy all began when Harris was detained as a result of Operation Yewtree, a police investigation that was launched when the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal broke out in late 2012.

Rolf Harris, though, was not in jail at the time of his death as he was reported to have died at his home.

In May 2013, he was questioned in relation to alleged past sexual offenses.

Harris was released on bail after denying any wrongdoing.

In August 2013, Operation Yewtree investigators detained Harris once more, and he was charged with four charges of producing indecent child photographs in 2012 and nine counts of indecent assault dating to the 1980s involving two females between the ages of 14 and 16.

READ ALSO: Rolf Harris Parents: Meet Cromwell Harris And Agnes Margaret Robbins Harris

At the age of 84, Harris was found guilty on 12 charges of indecent assault against four female victims in the 1970s and 1980s and received a five-year and nine-month prison term in July 2014.

In 2017, after serving almost three years at HM Prison Stafford, he was granted a license for release.

Following his conviction, Harris lost many of the accolades he had received throughout his career, and television shows featuring him that had been in syndication had their repeats pulled.

One charge, that Harris attacked an eight-year-old girl indecently in Portsmouth, was dismissed in 2017 due to safety concerns.

Harris requested permission to challenge his convictions for the final three girls, but his request was denied.

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