Harris declared not guilty after jury fails to reach verdict

DISGRACED former TV star Rolf Harris has walked free, found not guilty of four sexual assault charges after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

It was the second jury to fail to reach agreement on allegations Harris molested three teenage girls between 1971 and 1983.

British prosecutors considered whether to pursue the charges but told the court they would not seek a new trial.

“We have reviewed whether it would be appropriate to seek a further retrial on these allegations,” prosecution barrister Jonathan Rees QC told the court.

“We have come to the firm view that it would not.”

Judge Deborah Taylor then entered a verdict of not guilty and released Harris.

The jury of seven women and five men were earlier dismissed by Justice Taylor when they could not reach agreement on the charges after just five hours of deliberations.

The judge asked if they could reach agreement with a majority of 10 but was told this was not possible.

Harris thanked his supporters and expressed relief at the verdict in a statement read by his lawyer outside the court.

“I feel no sense of victory just relief,” Harris said in the statement.

The former entertainer described himself as an 87-year-old “with a sick wife”.

Early in May the singer and former children’s television entertainer was released from Stafford Prison, where he had been serving time for 12 other convictions of indecent assault.