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Rolf Harris 'rushed to hospital' with suspected blood poisoning

The entertainer is serving a near six-year sentence at Stafford prison for historic sex abuse

Maya Oppenheim
Thursday 15 September 2016 11:03 EDT
The Australian-born artist is serving a near six-year sentence at Stafford prison for historic sex abuse
The Australian-born artist is serving a near six-year sentence at Stafford prison for historic sex abuse

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Rolf Harris is reportedly being treated in hospital for suspected blood poisoning.

The Australian-born artist, 86, is serving a near six-year sentence at Stafford prison for historic sex abuse.

A source told The Sun: “Harris was treated like any other prisoner in the circumstances.

“He was escorted from Stafford by prison officers and has been monitored at all times.

“He is likely to return to jail shortly."

Blood poisoning, also known as sepsis, is triggered by an infection or injury and can be potentially life-threatening if left untreated.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told the Independent it could not comment on individual cases.

The disgraced children’s entertainer was jailed for five years and nine months in July 2014 after being found guilty of indecently assaulting four girls. One of his victims was only seven or eight years old and approached him for an autograph when he groped her.

Harris will face trial over seven charges of indecent assault on girls and women spanning four decades and dating back to the early 1970s on 9 January 2017. Some of the offences were allegedly committed at the BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, west London. Harris has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In November 2015, The Daily Mirror reported that Harris, who is diabetic, had been taken to hospital and fallen ill after eating chocolate and sweets in prison.

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