Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Libby cops in ‘balaclava man’ probe
Paedophile visited by officers Blasted by alleged former victim
POLICE are investigating claims a woman was approached by a balaclavaclad man close to where missing student Libby Squire was last seen.
Students in Hull were alerted on Facebook to the alleged incident, which happened just a few days before Libby vanished.
One said of Libby’s disappearance: “Everyone’s freaking out. They’re scared she’s been abducted.”
The warning, posted on February 1, said: “My friend was walking on Newland Avenue at 1am three days ago and a man in a balaclava walked towards her.
“She turned to run but a taxi tried to cut her off, but she managed to get away.”
Libby, 21, from High Wycombe, Bucks, has been missing since January 31. PAEDOPHILE Rolf Harris has been visited by police and given “advice” after he entered a primary school and waved at children in classes.
And two men, believed to be the same probation workers who dropped the entertainer off when he was first released from prison in May 2017, paid Harris a visit yesterday afternoon.
Police community support officers were also seen outside the school as children arrived yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, one of his alleged victims has blasted the 88-year-old ex-con’s behaviour. Karen Gardner has waived her right to anonymity to speak out against Harris – who was jailed for five years and nine months, in 2014, for 12 indecent assaults on four teenage girls.
Karen, 57, said: “Mr Harris continues to pursue his life without acknowledging the harm he did to girls and young women, and this behaviour doesn’t surprise me. All the publicity attributed to him suggests he doesn’t acknowledge or wish to understand what he’s done.
“If he made steps to do that, it would be a great positive step for all those who’ve suffered abuse.”
Karen has alleged Harris assaulted her, aged 16, in 1977. He was charged with indecently assaulting her, but was acquitted after the jury failed to reach a verdict in 2017. He faced two counts at a retrial later the same year, but the jury again failed to reach a verdict.
The Mirror revealed how Harris was reported to police after he was told to leave Oldfield Primary School, in Bray, Berks, on Tuesday, by the headteacher, who spotted him on school grounds.
A passer-by said Harris was speaking to a sculptor working on site and waved at children through the window, who waved back.
Police said they had spoken to Harris in person and “given advice”. A spokesman said: “A report was made that a man was on the site of the school. An officer attended the scene but no offence was committed.
“No arrests were made and advice has been given to the man involved.”
The Ministry of Justice confirmed it was investigating and would take “appropriate action”.
It is not clear if Harris breached the terms of his licence. An MOJ spokesman said: “When sex offenders are released, they are subject to strict licence conditions and are liable to be returned to custody for breaching them.”
Yesterday, the disgraced former entertainer refused to respond to journalists after he was seen leaving the river-front house he shares with wife Alwen Hughes, near the school.
One parent said Harris visiting the school left them feeling “uneasy”. They said: “What was he doing there? I don’t think his excuse is effective enough.”