Harris jury ‘poisoned against him by fake sex allegations’

FALSE sex allegations against Rolf Harris poisoned the minds of a jury that convicted him of 12 assaults, a High Court appeal heard yesterday.

Fresh evidence undermining the accounts of two victims meant Harris, 87, did not have a fair trial and the case should be overturned, his barrister said.

The TV presenter was convicted in 2014 of assaulting an eightyear-old autograph hunter, two teen girls and abusing his daughter’s friend. His barrister Stephen Vullo said: “The jury had their minds poisoned.”

Three Court of Appeal judges reserved their decision to a date yet to be fixed.

Harris was jailed for five years and nine months over assaults which took place between 1968 and 1986. He has since been released and attended the appeal.

AT COURT Harris yesterday