Rolf Harris walks free as prosecutors abandon historic indecent assault case
'Whilst I'm pleased that this is finally all over, I feel no sense of victory, only relief,' he says
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Your support makes all the difference.Disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris has walked free from court after prosecutors said they would not hold a further retrial on charges he indecently assaulted three teenage girls.
The 87-year-old former television presenter was twice tried over alleged sex attacks in the 1970s and 1980s, having previously spent time in prison for previous unconnected attacks.
But the jury at second trial today said they could not reach a verdict and were dismissed by Judge Deborah Taylor, who formally found him not guilty of all four charges of indecent assault, which he had denied.
Prosecutors Jonathan Rees QC told the court: "We have reviewed whether it would be appropriate to seek a further retrial on these allegations.
"We have come to the firm view that it would not.
"Accordingly we offer no evidence to the four counts on the indictment."
There was a cry of "well done Rolf" from the public gallery as the ex-television star left the courtroom.
Speaking outside Southwark Crown Court in London, Harris said he felt “no sense of victory, only relief”.
"I'm 87 years old, my wife is in ill health and we simply want to spend our remaining time together in peace."
Harris was alleged to have touched one complainant after a recording of the BBC children's show Saturday Superstore in 1983.
He had also been accused of indecently touching a 14-year-old girl in 1971 after she asked him for an autograph at a music event for children in London.
The musician and artist had also been accused of twice groping a third teenage girl after being paid £100 to appear on ITV celebrity show Star Games in 1978, and telling her she was "a little bit irresistible".
Harris did not give evidence with his lawyers saying he did not remember any of the events in question.
He left HMP Stafford on licence part-way through this retrial after serving less than three years of a five year and nine month sentence handed down in June 2014 for unconnected sex attacks on young girls and women.
He appeared in the dock in person after his release, having appeared via video link for the first part of the trial.
Additional reporting PA
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